Justin Trudeau resigns as Liberal Party leader: Canadians, leaders react after the prime minister's historic news conference

With Parliament prorogued, the Liberals will begin the process of finding a new leader as support for Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives grows

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has resigned as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in a historic statement made at Rideau Cottage on Monday morning. Until the Liberals appoint a new leader, Trudeau will stay on as Canada's prime minister.

"I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process," Trudeau said. "Last night, I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles I cannot be the best option in that election."

In his announcement, Trudeau said that he made a request for Parliament to be prorogued, one that will be granted until March 24. It means MPs won't meet in the House of Commons for any parliamentary activities, as the Liberals remain in power. Both the Conservatives and NDP have signalled that they'll call for a non-confidence vote the first chance they get, which would trigger an election.

Party leaders Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh both called on Canadians to not trust the Liberals any further, despite who they end up choosing as their leader, and that instead it's time to put their faith in a new party. South of the border, U.S.-President-elect Donald Trump also weighed in, as he furthered his agenda of making Canada the "51st state."

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Many Canadians took to social media to thank Trudeau after his nine years of service as prime minister.

Over the past month, Trudeau has faced increased scrutiny since former finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned in December, as she wrote a letter calling out his "political gimmicks" in the face of Trump's tariff threats. Calls for Trudeau to resign have grown among MPs of all parties, including the Liberals.

The prime minister’s resignation comes at a bad time for the party, with polls showing that they would lose to Poilievre's Conservatives. In his resignation announcement, Trudeau answered questions from reporters, as he warned Canadians about a future in which Polievre and the Conservatives are in charge.

The next federal election must take place on or before Oct. 20, 2025.

Below, you'll find more reaction and analysis from throughout the day, in what was a historic moment in Canadian politics.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER16 updates
  • What's next: Who could be the next Liberal leader and how does the process work?

    Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc delivers remarks  on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
    Dominic LeBlanc and Chrystia Freeland's names have been floated by experts as possible replacements for Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party. (Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby)

    With Trudeau announcing that he will step down as leader of the Liberal Party, it starts the process of finding his replacement.

    As part of the Liberals' constitution, party president Sachit Mehra has called a meeting, which will be held this week in order to begin a "nationwide democratic process of selecting a new leader of the party."

    When it comes to who's eligible to run, there are several criteria that need to met, like being registered Liberals and being allowed to run in a federal election. Their written nominations also must feature 300 signatures from registered Liberals.

    As of publication, no one has formally announced that they'll be running for the position.

    However, some popular names have been circulating among political circles, including former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, current Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, former Liberal MP Frank Baylis, and former B.C. premier Christy Clark, according to the CBC.

    With Parliament prorogued until March 24, it creates a small window in order for the Liberals to find their new leader and appear united.

    For more on the process of finding a new replacement, read CBC's comprehensive coverage here.

  • Ford calls for 'stability, strength at this critical moment,' but does not mention Trudeau by name

    Toronto ON-DEC 05 2022. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford deliver speeches and give media availability.  GM is inaugurating Canada's first large-scale EV manufacturing plant in Ingersol. The plant will be making electric delivery trucks and will anchor a burgeoning EV supply chain that Queen's Park and Ottawa have been scrambling to establish here (R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star)  (R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star)        (R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
    Doug Ford continues to raise the alarm on the possibility of 25 per cent tariffs hitting all Canadian goods that are exported to the U.S., a threat uttered by Trump since winning the election. (R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

    In the wake of a "critical moment," Ontario Premier Doug Ford has taken to X to share his belief that the federal government needs to focus on doing whatever it takes to avoid possible U.S. tariffs. The post came just after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would be resigning as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

    "The federal government needs to do everything humanly possible to avoid these tariffs," Ford wrote.

    "Canada needs to demonstrate stability and strength at this critical moment, and the federal government must urgently explain to Canadians how they will avoid tariffs that could have devastating effects on our economy."

    Ford has been vocal about the need for a proper approach in dealing with Trump's tariff threat, considering the impact it would have on Ontario.

  • 'History will look favourably upon the tenure of Justin Trudeau': Canadians thank PM for years of service

    As political leaders react to his resignation announcement, Canadians are taking to social media to thank Justin Trudeau for his work as Canada's prime minister over the past nine years.

    Many are applauding his role during the COVID-19 pandemic, how he weathered Canada's relationship with the U.S. during Donald Trump's first presidency, and also his ability to help advance social issues.

  • 'They have let you down': Singh calls for more NDP support, slams Liberals & Conservatives

    Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau (L) and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh get ready for the start of the federal election English-language Leaders debate in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada on September 9, 2021. (Photo by Justin Tang / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TANG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
    Jagmeet Singh called the Liberals "too weak and "selfish" when he ended the NDP's supply and confidence agreement in September 2024. (Photo by Justin Tang / POOL / AFP)

    With Trudeau stepping down, Jagmeet Singh is calling for increased support of the NDP, as Canadians get ready for an election which must happen before October 2025, but could happen as early as this spring.

    "Justin Trudeau's Liberals have let down Canadians," Singh said in a Monday afternoon press conference.

    "They have let you down when it comes to the cost of homes. He's let you down when it comes to the cost of living. And frankly, it's not just Justin Trudeau, it's every Liberal minister, every Liberal MP who looked down their nose at you when people were saying 'We can't make ends meet, we are struggling with the cost of living.'"

    "So it doesn't matter who the next Liberal leader is. They have let you down. They do not deserve another chance. They're more interested in themselves than the struggles of Canadians."

    Singh re-iterated the serious threat of Donald Trump's second presidency and his promised tariffs on Canadian goods and how the Liberals are more concerned with securing their jobs. The NDP leader is also warning against the threat of Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, who are leading in vote intention polls.

    "They want to cut your pensions. They want to cut health care. They want to cut dental care, all to make their rich CEO buddies even richer," Singh said.

    He added:

    "Canadians, give us a chance. Give us the honour of leading this country."

    Singh has faced criticism over the past few months. It started in September, when he ended the NDP's supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals. However, he was reluctant to join the Conservatives in their motion for a non-confidence vote. On Dec. 20, just after the closing of Parliament for the winter holiday break, Singh said he would now support a non-confidence motion.

  • Trump continues pushing '51st state' agenda as he provides reason why Trudeau resigned

    FILE - President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pose for a photo as Trudeau arrives at the White House in Washington, on Oct. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
    Donald Trump's threat of 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods to the U.S. has hung large over the Liberal government over the past few months. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

    With Justin Trudeau's announced resignation, U.S.-President elect Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to suggest "many" Canadians would "LOVE being the 51st State."

    "The United States can no longer suffer the massive trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned," Trump wrote.

    Trump said "no tariffs" would be imposed if "Canada merged with the U.S.," a threat he's been making ever since being elected in November.

    A poll from Leger last month found that only 13 per cent of Canadians are warm to the idea of the country becoming the "51st state."

    More leaders in Canada's political landscape reacted to Trudeau's news, including Chrystia Freeland, Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh.

  • 'They want to protect their pensions and paycheques': Poilievre calls out Liberal party after Trudeau steps down

    Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Justin Trudeau's announcement that he will resign does not change the outlook for the Liberal Party of Canada.

    "Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving. But what has really changed?" Polievere asked. "Every Liberal MP in power today and every potential Liberal leadership contender fighting for the top job helped Justin Trudeau break the country over the last nine years."

    Polievere cited the carbon tax, government spending, as well the Liberals' immigration, housing and crime policies.

    "Their only objection is that [Trudeau] is no longer popular enough to win an election and keep them in power," Poilievre said. "They want to protect their pensions and paycheques by sweeping their hated leader under the rug months before an election, to trick you and then do it all over again."

  • Trudeau calls Freeland 'incredible political partner' in resignation announcement

    TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 1 :  Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to media on 'the well-being of children and childhood development' in advance of the 2024 federal budget in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on April 1, 2024. Premier Trudeau was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, the Minister of Families Children and Social Development Jenna Sudds, and the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Marci Ien. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images)
    Freeland resignation in December came hours before the release of the federal government’s latest fiscal update that showed a deeper deficit than projected. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images)

    Trudeau has faced increased pressure to step down since his former finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on Dec. 16 in a letter to the prime minister.

    Initially, Trudeau had asked Freeland to step down from the post of finance minister for another position in his cabinet. Instead, Freeland decided to leave altogether, citing that she could not do her job while having a lack of "confidence" from the PM.

    Some view Freeland's resignation, and her scathing letter, as the "catalyst" to what led to Trudeau's decision on Monday. When asked to comment on his side of what happened, Trudeau said he isn't "someone who's in the habit of sharing private conversations."

    "Chrystia has been by my side for close to 10 years now," Trudeau said. "She has been an incredible political partner through just about everything we have done as a government and as a party over the past decade I had really hoped that she would agree to continue as my deputy prime minister and take on one of the most important files that not just this government but this country is facing, but she chose otherwise."

  • Trudeau downplays concern over distraction his resignation creates amid Trump's looming presidency, tariff threats

    ARCHIVO – El presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, izquierda, y el primer ministro canadiense, Justin Trudeau, hablan antes de una mesa redonda de la OTAN en el hotel y balneario The Grove en Watford, Hertfordshire, Inglaterra, el 4 de diciembre de 2019. (AP Foto/Frank Augstein, Archivo)
    Since winning the 2024 U.S. Election, Trump has repeatedly called Trudeau a "Governor," while saying that Canada should be the 51st state. (AP Foto/Frank Augstein, Archivo)

    On Monday, Trudeau was asked how the Liberals can be in a position to protect Canadian businesses from the threat of Donald Trump's tariffs, as the party looks to appoint a new leader in the next two months.

    Trudeau's resignation comes just two weeks before U.S.-President-elect Donald Trump gets sworn into office.Since his election win in November 2024, Trump has repeatedly made threats that the U.S. will impose high tariffs on Canadian goods.

    "The Cabinet will still be very much focused on doing the job that Canadians elected us to do in 2021, which is fight for their interests, stand up for their well being, and make sure that they are good and that Canadians are protected and strong.

    "There will be a leadership process and the rules will unfold over the coming weeks, but I can assure you that the tools and the need to stand up for Canadians, to protect Canadians and their interests and continue to fight for the economy is something that everyone in this government will be singularly focused on."

  • Watch: Trudeau resigns as Liberal leader, announces plan to eventually step down as PM

    With all eyes on Justin Trudeau, the prime minister stepped out at his residence, Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, to announce his decision to step down as the Liberal leader.

  • Trudeau believes that stepping down will help Liberals in a federal election

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves a news conference after announcing his resignation as Liberal leader outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves a news conference after announcing his resignation as Liberal leader outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

    When Parliament resumes March 24, it's expected that calls for a non-confidence vote will continue.

    If that vote takes place and the government fails, then an election will be triggered. This will put the new Liberal leader front and centre in the race against the Conservatives and Pierre Poilievre, who are favoured to win the election according to polls.

    Trudeau believes that stepping down gives his party a better chance.

    "There is always going to be the challenge of having a leadership race while a Parliament would face confidence votes in the course of delivering supply to the government," Trudeau said.

    "So this is something that we're going to navigate through. But I truly feel that removing the contention around my own continued leadership is an opportunity to bring the temperature down, have a government that will focus on the complex issues that are coming forward in the coming months, while the party gets to have a full national process that brings in people from right across the country and makes a determination about the best person to carry the progressive, Liberal standard into the next election."

  • Trudeau defends decision to prorogue Parliament, instead of allowing non-confidence vote to pass

    With Trudeau's granted request to prorogue Parliament, it stops MPs from being able to pass a non-confidence vote, which would trigger a federal election. The Conservatives have tabled many motions seeking a non-confidence vote against Trudeau and the Liberals since fall 2024.

    Following Freeland's resignation, Jagmeet Singh and the NDP said they would join the Conservatives in passing a non-confidence vote.

    On Monday, Trudeau defended his decision to prorogue Parliament, saying that it's "time for a reset."

    "Anyone who's been watching politics closely over the past months will know that Parliament has been entirely seized by obstruction and filibustering and a total lack of productivity.

    "It's time for the temperature to come down, for the people to have a fresh start in Parliament, to be able to navigate through these complex times, both domestically and internationally. And the reset that we have is actually two parts. One is the prorogation, but the other part is recognizing that removing me from the equation as the leader who will fight the next election for the Liberal Party should also decrease the level of polarization that we're seeing right now in the House and in Canadian politics, and allow people to actually focus on serving Canadians in this House and with their work the way Canadians deserve."

  • Trudeau slams Pierre Poilievre, believes Liberals can still beat the Conservatives

    Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during a news conference on Parliament Hill on December 16, 2024 in Ottawa. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in a surprise announcement on Monday quit over disagreements with Justin Trudeau on Canada's response to US President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threats. (Photo by Dave Chan / AFP) (Photo by DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
    Polls indicate that the Conservatives would win in a federal election if it were held today. (Photo by Dave Chan / AFP) (Photo by DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

    Trudeau “absolutely” believes that there is another Liberal leader who can defeat Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives in an upcoming federal election.

    Before giving his answer, the PM took time to remind Canadians of who he believes Poilievre truly is.

    “Poilievre’s vision for this country is not the right one for Canadians,” Trudeau said.

    “Stopping the fight against climate change doesn't make sense. Backing off on the values and strength and diversity that Canada has always worked to pull itself together on, is not the right path for the country. Attacking journalists, the CBC institutions, that's not what Canadians need in this moment.

    "We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future, and Pierre Poilievre is not offering that, and I look forward to the fight as progressives across this country stand up for the kind of vision for a better country that Canadians have always carried despite the tremendous pressures around the world to think smaller, to veer towards the far right and to be less ambitious for what we can be and do as a country when the world really needs Canada.”

  • Parliament to be prorogued until March 24

    Justin Trudeau has requested that Parliament be prorogued, which Governor General Mary Simon has granted until March 24.

    "Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history," Trudeau said at his press conference on Monday.

  • Breaking: Justin Trudeau announces resignation as Liberal leader

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his resignation as Liberal leader and prime minister outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his resignation as Liberal leader and prime minister outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

    Justin Trudeau says he will step down as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada after a new leader has been selected.

    He made the statement Monday morning at Rideau Cottage.

  • If Trudeau resigns as Liberal leader what happens?

    It remains unclear if Justin Trudeau will stay on as prime minister, even after stepping down as the Liberal leader. He could wait until a new party leader is selected.

    According to The Globe, the Liberal Party national executive plans to meet next week, likely after Wednesday's national caucus session, where they will make their leadership decision.

    The Liberals can either appoint an interim leader or hold a shortened leadership contest. In the event that they choose the latter, it wold require the Governor-General Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament, which isn't a guarantee.

  • Justin Trudeau to speak at Rideau Cottage on Monday morning, expected to resign

    The prime minister will hold an announcement at 10:45 a.m. ET at Rideau Cottage on Monday morning.

    CBC and the Toronto Star are reporting that Justin Trudeau will use this opportunity to formally announce his resignation.

    Yahoo News Canada will have the live feed as part of this article, so be sure to check back in.