Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reportedly on the verge of announcing his intention to resign. However, a definitive decision has yet to be reached, according to a source close to Trudeau’s deliberations on Sunday.
A source has confirmed to Reuters that Prime Minister Trudeau is anticipated to announce his resignation as leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party as soon as Monday, following a report by the Globe and Mail regarding his impending departure after nine years in office.
A source has chosen to remain anonymous due to a lack of authorisation to speak on the record.
Trudeau’s exit would result in the Liberal Party lacking a permanent leader, coinciding with polling data indicating a significant defeat against the official opposition Conservatives in the upcoming election, which is mandated to occur by late October.
According to sources in the Globe and Mail, there is no definitive timeline for when Prime Minister Trudeau will reveal his plans to step down. However, they anticipate an announcement before an emergency meeting of Liberal legislators scheduled for Wednesday.
A growing contingent of Liberal parliamentarians, concerned by disappointing polls, have openly called for Trudeau to resign.
The prime minister’s office has yet to respond to a request for comment outside of regular business hours. On Monday, the prime minister’s published schedule indicated he would engage virtually in a cabinet committee meeting focused on Canada-U.S. relations.
The Globe and Mail report indicates uncertainty surrounding Trudeau’s timeline for departure, questioning whether he will step down immediately or continue serving as prime minister until a new Liberal leader is chosen.
In 2013, Trudeau assumed leadership of the Liberal Party when it faced significant challenges, having fallen to third place in the House of Commons for the first time in its history.
If he resigns, it is expected to ignite renewed demands for a swift election to establish a stable government capable of managing the administration of President-elect Donald Trump over the next four years.
According to a source, the prime minister has engaged in discussions with Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc regarding the possibility of him stepping in as interim leader and prime minister. However, the source noted that this arrangement would be impractical if LeBlanc intends to pursue the leadership position.
At 53 years old, Trudeau has successfully navigated concerns from Liberal legislators regarding polling numbers and the potential loss of secure seats in two upcoming special elections.
Calls for his resignation have intensified since December, following Trudeau’s attempt to demote Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, a key ally in his cabinet, after she opposed his plans for increased spending.
Freeland resigned and authored a letter in which she criticised Trudeau for engaging in “political gimmicks” instead of prioritising the nation’s best interests.
In 2015, Trudeau led the Liberals to victory with a campaign centred on “sunny ways” and a progressive platform emphasising women’s rights and a commitment to combating climate change.
The daily challenges of governance increasingly took a toll on him. Like numerous Western leaders, the necessity of addressing the pandemic’s repercussions consumed a significant portion of his time.
Despite Ottawa’s significant financial investments to safeguard consumers and businesses, resulting in unprecedented budget deficits, public discontent surged as prices rose.
The consequences of a flawed immigration policy have resulted in a surge of arrivals, placing significant pressure on an already strained housing market.
