Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing increasing pressure from his own Liberal Party Members of Parliament to step down. In a meeting held in Ottawa on December 23, 2024, over 50 Liberal MPs from Ontario agreed that Trudeau should resign. Liberal legislator Chandra Arya told CBC, “There is no alternative but to have the leadership change now.” Prior to this, 18 MPs had publicly demanded Trudeau’s resignation.
This pressure intensified after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned due to policy disagreements. Subsequently, all opposition parties announced their intention to unite to bring down the Liberal government. If Trudeau resigns, potential candidates include Freeland, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney.
However, Trudeau has shown no immediate intention to resign. A Liberal source stated that he plans to spend Christmas with his family and then go on a skiing vacation in British Columbia. Another source mentioned that Trudeau will consider his future after the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Opposition parties argue that given the imminent end of Trudeau’s government and the incoming U.S. administration’s promise to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, the country needs an election now to establish a stable government. Polls indicate that the Liberal Party may face defeat in the upcoming elections.
