Justin Trudeau will be resigning as leader of the federal Liberals and Prime Minister once a new party leader is selected.
Trudeau met with Governor General Mary Simon Monday morning, where he asked for Parliament to be prorogued until March 24.
That request has been granted.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” says Trudeau.
He has been Liberal leader since 2013 and prime minister since 2015.
“I’ve fought for this country. For you,” Trudeau says. “To strengthen and grow the middle class, why we rallied to support each other through the pandemic, to advance reconciliation, to defend free trade on this continent, to stand strong with Ukraine and our democracy, and to fight climate change and get our economy ready for the future. We are at a critical moment in the world.”
The House of Commons was set to resume Jan. 27, amid the threat of impending opposition party non-confidence motions.
Trudeau has asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin the process of selecting a new leader, through what he calls a ‘robust, nationwide, competitive process.’
