Close X
    Wednesday, January 15, 2025
    ADVT 
    National

    Trudeau prorogues Parliament, will step down as prime minister after leadership race

    Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Jan, 2025 10:42 AM
    • Trudeau prorogues Parliament, will step down as prime minister after leadership race

    Justin Trudeau said he will resign as prime minister and leader of the Liberal party following a leadership contest, after months of growing calls from within the Liberal caucus that he step down for the good of his party.

    A teary-eyed Trudeau told reporters outside Rideau Cottage, his official residence in Ottawa, on Monday that he reflected on his political future over the holidays and told his kids Sunday evening over dinner that he has decided it's time for him to move on.

    Trudeau said Canadians know him as a fighter, but they deserve a "real choice in the next election," which will take place later this year.

    "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.

    It's the first time the prime minister has taken questions from media since his finance minister suddenly resigned in December. 

    Questions about Trudeau's future have swirled for more than a year amid slumping poll numbers, but took on new levels after Chrystia Freeland stepped down as minister of finance and deputy prime minister, sending shock waves through the government and the Liberal party.

    Trudeau said he met with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon on Monday morning and that she has agreed to his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24. 

    Trudeau said the House of Commons has been paralyzed for months and needs a reset. Proroguing Parliament will put the legislature on pause for months and wipe clear the current slate of legislation, but it will not trigger an election.

    In the meantime, Trudeau said he has asked Liberal party president Sachit Mehra Sunday night to immediately launch a leadership race ahead of the next election.

    The election is scheduled for fall this year, but an earlier vote appears likely.

    Prev Next

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Global Affairs won't confirm reports Canadian dead in Russia was foreign fighter

    Global Affairs won't confirm reports Canadian dead in Russia was foreign fighter
    Global Affairs Canada says it is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Russia. But the department won't confirm reports the Canadian was among four foreign fighters who had crossed into Russia to fight for Ukraine.

    Global Affairs won't confirm reports Canadian dead in Russia was foreign fighter

    Foreign affairs minister seeks support for plan to return deported Ukrainian children

    Foreign affairs minister seeks support for plan to return deported Ukrainian children
    Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she hopes countries from around the world will support a plan to bring back Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia since the war in Ukraine began nearly three years ago. Joly urged more than 60 delegations attending a ministerial conference in Montreal on Wednesday to make a “strong pledge” to ensure children and other Ukrainian civilians are returned home. 

    Foreign affairs minister seeks support for plan to return deported Ukrainian children

    Liberals look to move past leadership drama with eye on next campaign

    Liberals look to move past leadership drama with eye on next campaign
    Longtime Liberal operative Andrew Bevan was named the new national campaign director two weeks ago and made his first presentation to the full caucus during the weekly meeting. The next election must be held by Oct. 20, 2025, but it could come much sooner. The Conservatives and Bloc Québécois have pledged to try to bring down the minority government this fall.

    Liberals look to move past leadership drama with eye on next campaign

    PM says he's trying to get Poilievre names of Tories linked to foreign interference

    PM says he's trying to get Poilievre names of Tories linked to foreign interference
    Earlier this month, Trudeau told a public inquiry that he has been given the names of past and present Conservative parliamentarians and candidates who are linked to foreign interference. Trudeau said members from other parties, including the Liberals, have also been flagged.

    PM says he's trying to get Poilievre names of Tories linked to foreign interference

    B.C. judge halts the medically assisted death of Alberta woman

    B.C. judge halts the medically assisted death of Alberta woman
    A British Columbia judge has granted an injunction stopping a woman's medically assisted death, the day before it was scheduled to take place in Vancouver.  The injunction granted on Saturday to the woman's common-law partner prevents Dr. Ellen Wiebe or any other medical professional from helping end the life of the 53-year-old Alberta woman within 30 days.

    B.C. judge halts the medically assisted death of Alberta woman

    Drug-trafficking investigation leads to charges against 19 people in northern B.C.

    Drug-trafficking investigation leads to charges against 19 people in northern B.C.
    Federal prosecutors have approved charges against 19 people, eight of them still at large, after an investigation into what police call a violent drug trafficking network in northeastern British Columbia. A statement from B.C.'s Combined Special Forces Enforcement Unit says two of the 11 people who were arrested remain in custody, while the others have been released with conditions as they move through the judicial process.

    Drug-trafficking investigation leads to charges against 19 people in northern B.C.

    PrevNext