On Jan. 6, Justin Trudeau announced his decision to resign as prime minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Party of Canada after nearly a decade in power. Trudeau will continue to serve as leader of the party and as prime minister until a nation-wide leadership race concludes on March 9.

Speaking outside his official residence at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Trudeau delivered a speech in both English and French, reflecting on his tenure and future.

“Every morning I’ve woken up as prime minister, I’ve been inspired by the resilience, the generosity and the determination of Canadians,” said Trudeau. “It is the driving force of every single day I have the privilege of serving in this office.”

He said that since 2015, he has focused on key initiatives such as supporting the middle class, advancing reconciliation, standing in solidarity with Ukraine and tackling climate change.

Trudeau also acknowledged recent challenges, citing a prolonged session of a minority government and “internal battles” as factors influencing his decision. He shared that his family played a significant role in his reflections over the holidays.

On Dec. 16, Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister and deputy prime minister following weeks at odds with Prime Minister Trudeau, according to a publicly shared letter. Over 20 Liberal MPs had publicly said that Trudeau should resign leading up to the announcement, including Ben Carr on Jan. 3, the only Manitoba Liberal MP to call for Trudeau to step down.

Trudeau expressed confidence in the Liberal Party’s future during his resignation speech, adding that “this country deserves a real choice in the next election.” He reassured Canadians that the government would continue to focus on strengthening the post-pandemic economy and addressing Canada’s interest on a global scale.

“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 so that people could choose a second choice or a third choice on the same ballot,” he said.

Trudeau also mentioned that Governor General Mary Simon granted his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

Trudeau was elected leader of the Liberal Party in April 2013 and first formed government on Oct. 19, 2015, leading his party to re-election in 2019 and 2021.

Since his resignation, the three major opposition parties have all pledged to bring down the minority government at the earliest opportunity. The next federal election is slated to occur in October 2025 at the latest.