OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reportedly on the verge of announcing his resignation, though he has yet to make a final decision, according to a source close to his thinking, who spoke to Reuters on Sunday.
The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed a report by the Globe and Mail, which suggested Trudeau might step down as early as Monday after nearly a decade leading Canada’s Liberal Party.
If Trudeau steps down, it would leave the party without a permanent leader as polls indicate the Liberals are poised for a crushing defeat by the Conservative opposition in the upcoming election, which must take place by late October.
While the timing of Trudeau’s resignation remains unclear, sources speculate it could occur before an emergency meeting of Liberal MPs scheduled for Wednesday. Growing frustration among Liberal parliamentarians, spurred by dismal polling, has led to a surge of public calls for Trudeau to resign.
The Prime Minister’s office declined to comment outside of regular business hours. Trudeau’s schedule for Monday indicates he will participate virtually in a meeting on Canada-US relations.
It remains uncertain whether Trudeau will step down immediately or stay on as Prime Minister until a new party leader is chosen.
Rising Discontent
Trudeau took charge of the Liberal Party in 2013, rebuilding it from third place in the House of Commons. However, his potential resignation is now fueling calls for a swift leadership change to stabilize the government ahead of critical dealings with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister has had discussions with Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc regarding the possibility of him stepping in as interim leader. However, this could be complicated if LeBlanc intends to run for the leadership himself.
Trudeau, 53, managed to fend off concerns from Liberal MPs in the past, particularly after losing safe seats in two special elections. However, dissatisfaction has grown since December, when he attempted to demote his close ally, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, after she opposed his plans for more government spending. Freeland resigned and criticized Trudeau for pursuing “political gimmicks” over the nation’s best interests.
Trudeau’s rise to power in 2015 was marked by promises of progressive policies, such as advancing women’s rights and addressing climate change. However, the challenges of governing—especially the pandemic’s impact—have taken their toll. Despite large-scale financial support for businesses and consumers, widespread public frustration has mounted due to soaring prices and a strained housing market, exacerbated by a flawed immigration policy.
