The Latest: Justin Trudeau says he will resign after Liberals choose new leader

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed media this morning from his residence in Ottawa to announce that he will step down as Liberal leader once his party selects a replacement.

This was his first planned news conference in the three weeks since Chrystia Freeland’s resignation as finance minister and deputy prime minister, which rocked Trudeau’s government and ignited an even bigger push for him to step aside.

Here’s the latest (all times Eastern):

5:20 p.m.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says while Trudeau is still in office it is important for him to engage with premiers about the country’s trade relationship with the United States.

Kinew told reporters there is still a need for a united approach between the federal government and provinces and territories when it comes to pushing back against U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs in Canadian goods.

Kinew says the leaders of the provinces and territories will continue to hold the mantle for Canadians by appealing to U.S. trading partners on the importance of protecting jobs and the economy.

He says he has no preference on who should take over as the Liberal party leader.

5:17 p.m.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force 1 Monday that Trudeau was a “stalwart friend” of the United States.

Jean-Pierre says the two countries have worked closely together on issues facing them, and that President Joe Biden is “grateful” for Trudeau’s partnership.

4:33 p.m.

Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King lauded Trudeau’s service, saying the prime minister guided the country through some of the most challenging times over his nine years.

He says while the two didn’t always agree on everything, he appreciated Trudeau’s openness to hearing the perspectives of Canada’s smallest province.

King says anyone who steps forward to serve in political life — especially in the highest office in the “greatest country in the world” — deserves respect and gratitude because these roles demand tremendous sacrifice and come with extraordinary pressures.

3:52 p.m.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith tells an unrelated news conference in Calgary she would have liked to see an election call at the moment Trudeau stepped down.

She says she’s very concerned about Canada-U.S. relations, given president-elect Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs on Canadian imports, calling Trudeau a “lame duck leader with no immediate plans to leave.”

She says it will be up to provincial leaders to keep cross-border trade open.

3:13 p.m.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says Trudeau “devoted himself” to making Canada a better country for all Canadians over the last 10 years.

In a short statement on social media, Joly thanks Trudeau for his leadership, and sends well wishes to him and his family.

2:50 p.m.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt thanks Trudeau for his years of public service and dedication.

In a two-line statement, Holt says she wishes the prime minister and his family all the best.

She says the country must stand together in the face of new challenges and the threat of tariffs.

2:38 p.m.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says as long as Trudeau is still prime minister, his top focus must be fighting possible tariffs from the United States.

Ford says after Trudeau announced his upcoming resignation today, he may be prime minister for another month or two and during that time he needs to push back against 25 per cent tariffs proposed by Trump.

Ford says “prorogation doesn’t mean vacation.”

2:21 p.m.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston thanks Trudeau for his service, saying he doesn’t need to agree with someone on every issue to respect the sacrifice it takes to run for public office and serve.

He says that despite their differences, they were able to have frank conversations about what’s best for Nova Scotians.

2:20 p.m.

Residents of the Montreal riding Trudeau has represented since 2008 are reacting to his decision to step down as Liberal leader.

Faisal Amin, the owner of a fruit and vegetable store, says he’s a big fan of Trudeau on a personal level but feels it was time for him to go.

Amin says Canadians are economically stressed and it’s best for the country to bring in someone with new ideas.

Other residents of Papineau said they felt Trudeau had allowed the cost of living to climb too high and admitted too many immigrants into the country.

2:15 p.m.

John Rustad, leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., says Trudeau’s resignation marks a “pivotal moment” for Canadians.

He says it signals the rejection of “divisive, ideological leadership and are demanding a return to common-sense government.”

Rustad says the news leaves B.C. Premier David Eby without his closest ally in Ottawa.

1:47 p.m.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May says in a statement Trudeau “finally admitted” he needs to step aside to make way for a new leader.

She says the decline in his support has been “painful” to witness, and that it was akin to a “slow-motion train wreck.”

Still, May praised Trudeau’s public service, saying he has consistently prioritized his family time and children while serving in the role. And while she says she could critique his record on the issues that matter, she’ll save those for the upcoming election.

1:25 p.m.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says no prime minister has done as much work for Indigenous Peoples as Trudeau has.

She says that work set a new standard for politicians of all stripes, and that Indigenous issues can no longer be swept under the rug.

Woodhouse Nepinak praised his work to end boil water advisories in First Nations communities, the returning of child welfare jurisdiction to Indigenous communities and the advancement of Indigenous rights on the international stage.

She says a prorogued Parliament is “disappointing” for legislation aimed toward Indigenous Peoples, including legislation that codifies First Nations peoples have a right to clean drinking water. She hopes MPs will return to the House of Commons in March and put aside their differences to pass that bill.

1:23 p.m.

Quebec Premier François Legault says although their opinions differed, he thanks Trudeau for his service and commitment to Canada.

He says there are significant challenges ahead, particularly with president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in the coming weeks.

1:20 p.m.

Trump says Trudeau resigned because he knows the U.S. will not put up with trade deficits with Canada and says many Canadians would love being the 51st state.

Trump reiterated his rhetoric about Canada joining the United States in a post on Truth Social after Trudeau’s announcement that he will resign as Liberal leader and prime minister as soon as a new leader is chosen.

12:58 p.m.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith weighed in with her thoughts following Trudeau’s resignation, calling on MPs to force an election at the first available opportunity.

She says the Liberal party has no such mandate from Canadians to prorogue Parliament, accusing the party of putting selfish political interests ahead of the Canadian people.

12:20 p.m.

Former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says Trudeau did not appear like he wants to step down and said he was not “too gracious” in his announcement. However, she also thanked Trudeau for his service, saying Canada can “finally turn the page” and keep focusing on building a stronger country in an increasingly uncertain world.

She says via a social media post that she hopes to see an “elevation in our discourse beyond petty, toxic partisanship, and a revitalized focus on developing sound public policy to guide our future.”

Wilson-Raybould became an Independent MP in 2019 after a clash with Trudeau over how a potential criminal case against SNC-Lavalin should be handled.

12:17 p.m.

Sachit Mehra, the president of the Liberal party, says Liberals across the country are “immensely grateful” to Trudeau for his service to the country for more than a decade.

He says in a social media post Trudeau rebuilt the party and delivered transformational progress for Canadians, including $10-a-day child care, a national climate plan, dental care and universal pharmacare.

Mehra thanks Trudeau for his service, and says he looks forward to his “continued leadership” until the party selects a new leader.

Chrystia Freeland, who until weeks ago served as Trudeau’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, keeps her wishes for him short.

In a statement posted on social media, Freeland thanks Trudeau for his service and says she wishes him and his family “the very best.”

Former premier of British Columbia Christy Clark similarly thanked Trudeau on social media, adding that as a “lifelong Liberal” she looks forward to the upcoming leadership race.

She says it is the biggest opportunity in more than a decade to grow the party and welcome new members.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said on social media Trudeau has let Canadians down, including with the cost of housing and groceries and fixing the health care system.

He says the Liberals don’t deserve another chance, and that the Conservatives are not a viable option to replace them.

Instead, Singh is pitching Canadians to vote for him in a coming election, saying if they do so they’ll have a government that works for them “for a change.”

11:53 a.m.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canadians may be relieved that Trudeau plans to leave office, but little changes in reality.

Poilievre says every Liberal MP has “actively worked to pass into law the job-killing, inflationary carbon tax,” and have all voted to support Trudeau’s “out-of-control spending.”

He says the only reason those MPs are now pushing back against Trudeau is because he’s no longer popular enough to win an election and MPs are interested in saving their own jobs.

He says Canadians need an election, not a prorogued Parliament, so Canadians can “take back control of their lives and their country.”

11:50 a.m.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that while U.S. president-elect Donald Trump continues to threaten tariffs on Canadian goods, the federal government needs to avoid them at all costs.

He says Canada needs to “demonstrate stability and strength at this critical moment,” and that the federal government must “urgently explain” to Canadians how they’ll work to push back against tariffs that could be devastating on the economy.

11:41 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his plan to prorogue Parliament and step aside as Liberal leader will reset the gridlocked House of Commons and lower the level of polarization people are seeing in the House and in general society.

Asked by reporters whether his request to prorogue is “undemocratic” as it would skirt non-confidence votes until at least March 24, Trudeau says Parliament needs to reset because an ongoing filibuster on questions of privilege have made it difficult for legislation to move through the House of Commons.

When the House of Commons sits again, Trudeau says the government will likely face a fresh confidence vote.

He says the rules for a Liberal leadership process to replace him will be made clear over the coming weeks, and the government will continue working for Canadians and protect their interests in the interim.

Trudeau says his government will be squarely focused on fighting tariffs threatened by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, saying it’s in the best interests of everyone in the country that the government take that threat seriously.

11:18 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says if he has one regret about his time in office it’s that he did not change the electoral rules when he had the chance.

He says if those changes were implemented, people would look for things they have in common instead of trying to “polarize and divide Canadians,” but that his party could not unilaterally change the system.

Trudeau was asked by reporters if his decision in December to remove Chrystia Freeland as finance minister and her subsequent resignation was the catalyst for his departure.

He says Freeland has been by his side for nearly 10 years, calling her an “incredible political partner” who he hoped would have agreed to continue serving in his government.

Before Trudeau began speaking to reporters this morning, his prepared speech blew away in the wind.

11:09 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he intends to resign as Liberal leader and prime minister after his party elects a new leader.

He says Gov. Gen. Mary Simon granted his request to prorogue Parliament, saying the House of Commons will not sit until March 24.

Trudeau says he came to the decision to resign after speaking with his family over the holidays, and that part of the reason was so Canadians have a “real choice” in the next election.

Citing “internal battles” within his caucus, Trudeau says he is not the best option for that race, despite being a “fighter” who is driven by his love for Canada and his desire to serve Canadians.

8:56 a.m.

The Prime Minister’s Office notifies the Parliamentary Press Gallery that Trudeau “will be making an announcement and answering questions from the media” outside his home, Rideau Cottage, at 10:45 a.m.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2025.

The Canadian Press staff