Justin Trudeau announces resignation

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will step down as leader of the Liberal Party, citing internal divisions and the need for a "real choice" in the next federal election. He will remain in office until the party selects a new leader. 

Trudeau made the announcement outside Rideau Cottage Monday morning, reflecting on his tenure and the challenges that led to his decision. 

"My friends, as you all know, I'm a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians," he said. "And I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians, and the fact is, despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history." 

Trudeau confirmed that he has asked Governor General Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament until March 24, effectively halting legislative business for nearly three months. 

Trudeau to resign when party picks new leader 

Over the holiday break, Trudeau said he took time to reflect on his political future, holding discussions with his family before arriving at his decision. 

"So last night, over dinner, I told my kids about the decision that I'm sharing with you today. I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide competitive process," he said. "Last night, I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process." 

His announcement follows weeks of mounting pressure from within his own party, with multiple MPs and regional caucuses urging him to step aside. His leadership also came under increased scrutiny after former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet, publicly criticizing the government's economic policies. 

Trudeau resignation announcement focuses on future party strength 

Trudeau acknowledged the internal divisions but framed his resignation as an effort to strengthen the party’s future prospects. 

"This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election," he said. 

During his address, Trudeau highlighted his government’s achievements, pointing to economic policies, poverty reduction, and climate action as key accomplishments over his nearly decade-long tenure. 

Trudeau highlights ‘fight for the middle class’ 

"We got elected in 2015 to fight for the middle class, and that's exactly what we've done over the past years,” said Trudeau.  

“We've reduced their taxes, we increased the benefits to families, we made sure the economy was focused on working for everyone and not just a few. And that has changed. That has dropped poverty rates in Canada, that has brought more people into the workforce, that has moved us forward on reconciliation in a way that has deeply improved the opportunities and success of Canadians." 

However, he also acknowledged regrets, particularly regarding electoral reform. 

"If I have one regret, particularly as we approach this election…I do wish that we'd been able to change the way we elect our governments in this country," he said. "So that people could simply choose a second choice or a third choice on the same ballot, so the parties would spend more time trying to be people's second or third choices, and people would have been looking for things they have in common, instead of trying to polarize and divide Canadians against each other." 

Trudeau did not provide a timeline for when the Liberal leadership race would conclude, but emphasized that the transition process would be "rigorous, competitive, and national in scope." 

Justin Trudeau’s reign as prime minister

October 19, 2015: Trudeau's Liberal Party wins a majority government in the federal election, ending nearly a decade of Conservative rule under Stephen Harper.

November 4, 2015: Trudeau is sworn in as the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada. His cabinet includes a historic gender balance (equal number of men and women), with the notable explanation: “Because it’s 2015.”

July 20, 2016: The Liberals launch the Canada Child Benefit to replace Harper’s Universal Child Care Benefit. The new benefit is not taxable and is dependent on family income.

Dec. 20, 2017: Canada’s ethics commissioner finds several violations related to several private-island vacations offered to Trudeau and his family by the Aga Khan.

Oct. 23, 2018: Trudeau introduces the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, which would impose a revenue-neutral price on carbon for provinces that don’t already have one.

Feb. 7, 2019: The Globe and Mail reports that Trudeau’s office pressured then-justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to intervene in the corruption and fraud prosecution of Montreal engineering and construction giant SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. Both Wilson-Raybould and Treasury Board president Jane Philpott resign from cabinet in the aftermath of the story. Philpott expresses her lack of confidence over the government’s handling of the affair. Trudeau’s top aide, Gerald Butts, also resigns.

Sept. 18, 2019: In the middle of the general election, Time magazine reveals a past photo of Trudeau in brownface makeup. It was taken in 2001 during an Arabian Nights-themed gala at a private school where he was teaching at the time. Two more images quickly surface as well, including one of a high-school aged Trudeau in blackface performing “Day-O,” a Jamaican folk song, and a video of Trudeau at an unidentified event in the ’90s.

Oct. 21, 2019: Canadian voters knock Trudeau’s Liberals down to a minority government.

Dec. 11, 2019: After a long and arduous negotiation, Trudeau’s government signs a revised North American free-trade deal with the United States and Mexico. The Liberals count the successful negotiation with U.S. president Donald Trump’s administration as a major win.

March 11, 2020: The World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a global pandemic. Trudeau responds with a $1-billion package, including for surge capacity at provincial hospitals and extra surveillance at the National Microbiology Lab.

July 27, 2021: Despite early criticism that the federal government is slow to bring the available COVID-19 vaccines to Canada, Trudeau announces that the country has enough doses to vaccinate every eligible Canadian months ahead of schedule.

Sept. 20, 2021: Trudeau’s Liberals pick up another five seats in the federal election, but fail to win a majority.

Jan. 27, 2022: The first of the self-styled “Freedom Convoy” protesters roll into Ottawa with big rig trucks in a massive, three-week demonstration against COVID-19 mandates and Trudeau’s government. The crowds, trucks and police barriers gridlock the streets around Parliament Hill. Many of the protesters carry flags and signs with expletives directed at the prime minister.

March 22, 2022: Trudeau signs a supply-and-confidence deal with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The political pact would see the NDP support the Liberals on key votes in the House of Commons in exchange for progress on priority policies like a national dental-care program and pharmacare legislation.

March 28, 2022: Canada signs child-care deals with all 13 provinces and territories to lower the cost of daycare, aiming for most families to pay no more than $10 a day.

Aug. 2, 2023: Trudeau announces he and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, his wife of 18 years, are separating. He would later say that he considered stepping down while he was experiencing difficulties in his marriage.

Dec. 13, 2023: The Liberals launch registration for a national dental-care program for low- and middle-income Canadians.

Sept. 4, 2024: Singh ends his supply-and-confidence deal with the Liberals, making the government a true minority at far greater risk of being defeated.

Oct. 23, 2024: The Liberal caucus meets, and Trudeau is confronted with a letter signed by at least two dozen MPs asking him to resign. He says he will not.

Dec. 16, 2024: Chrystia Freeland quits as finance minister and deputy prime minister, citing a dispute with Trudeau over fiscal prudence on the day she was to deliver a major economic update. She also says Trudeau had told her he was about to move her to a different cabinet post.

Jan. 6, 2025: Trudeau announces he has asked Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament until March 24, and says he will step down as party leader once the Liberals have chosen a new leader in a national leadership race.

Timeline as reported by The Canadian Press.