TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is unlikely to announce any decisions regarding his political future during the upcoming Christmas holiday period, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. Trudeau plans to spend time with his family in British Columbia from December 26 until January 2.
Recent concerns regarding Trudeau’s leadership have intensified, particularly following the unexpected resignation of Chrystia Freeland, the Prime Minister’s finance minister and deputy. Freeland stepped down after being informed that she would no longer retain her position as finance minister. Many Liberal Members of Parliament are increasingly calling for Trudeau to resign, apprehensive that the party may face an unprecedented electoral defeat in the near future.
It remains uncertain whether Trudeau will continue to lead the Liberal Party into the upcoming elections. With Parliament currently in recess for the holidays until late January, the New Democratic Party (NDP) announced last week that it would cast a “no confidence” vote once lawmakers reconvene on January 27.
Upon his return from the holiday break, Trudeau may consider suspending Parliament for an extended period to allow for a leadership race within the party to take place. Alternatively, he could postpone an opposition day, which could potentially schedule the “no confidence vote” in Parliament.
Trudeau’s Liberal Party, lacking an outright majority, has depended on support from the NDP to enact legislation and maintain governance. However, that alliance appears to be faltering, as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh indicated that his party would vote to bring down the Trudeau government.
Having been in power for nearly ten years, Trudeau’s popularity has notably declined, particularly regarding pressing issues such as high living costs and inflation. Although there are no immediate mechanisms to force Trudeau to resign, he could announce his willingness to step down once a new party leader is elected. Alternatively, the Liberal Party could face removal from power through a “no confidence” vote in Parliament, leading to elections that are likely to benefit the Conservative Party.
This political turmoil is unfolding during a challenging time for Canada, especially considering the threats from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has warned of imposing 25% tariffs on Canadian goods unless Canada takes action against what he perceives as a flow of migrants and drugs entering the U.S., despite the reality that significantly more of each comes from Mexico rather than Canada.
Trudeau has refrained from making any statements regarding his future or addressing media inquiries since Freeland’s resignation. Nevertheless, he has indicated that his government is preparing for the upcoming inauguration of Trump on January 20. On Monday, Trudeau is set to participate virtually in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations.
