Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Announces Resignation
The Story: On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he will resign as leader of the Liberal Party—and as Prime Minister of Canada—following the completion of a Liberal Party leadership election to select his replacement.
For nearly two years, Trudeau has faced collapsing electoral prospects, internal dissension, and mounting pressure to resign—particularly in the aftermath of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s resignation and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s subsequent promise to vote no confidence in the Liberal Government.
With limited options, Trudeau chose to announce his resignation and prorogue Parliament until March 24—a procedural move that ends the parliamentary session, terminates all Government bills under parliamentary consideration, and allows the Liberal Party to elect a new leader before facing a confidence vote when Parliament returns.
Prime Minister Trudeau will become the first Prime Minister to resign his office since Jean Chrétien in 2003.
The Significance: In political terms, the premiership of Justin Trudeau has spanned a nearly ten-year period of Canadian history that has included one majority government, two minority governments, and several major cultural turning points. In moral terms, the premiership of Justin Trudeau has been an unqualified catastrophe.
Under Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership, Canada’s Parliament has repeatedly undermined the Christian values of Canada’s founding and instead embraced the tenets of secularism and sexual revolution. Over the last ten years, the Trudeau Government has legalized and expanded assisted suicide, legalized the use of recreational marijuana, criminalized “anti-transgender” speech, banned biblical counselling for homosexual persons, and repeatedly targeted pro-life organizations and pregnancy care centres. Since 2021, his Government has also done little more than watch as arsonists and vandals targeted over 100 Christian church buildings for destruction.
Very tragically, the legacy of Justin Trudeau is one of celebrating wickedness and condemning righteousness. May God bring repentance to the Prime Minister’s heart and restoration to the land he leads.
Read More: Jonathan Van Maren, The European Conservative, “Trudeau’s Legacy: Death, Depression, and Social Darwinism”
Liberal Party Prepares to Elect New Leader, Prime Minister
The Story: In the aftermath of Prime Minister and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s announced resignation, Liberal Party members are set to elect a new Party Leader and, by effect, the next Prime Minister of Canada.
Potential candidates will have until January 23 to pay a $350,000 fee to enter the 59-day contest, which will culminate with an announcement on Sunday, March 9. Potential voters—who may register for free—must sign-up no later than January 27 to be eligible.
Recent polling indicates that former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney currently lead all potential candidates. Former BC Premier Christy Clark and Minister of Innovation François-Philippe Champagne are also expected to join the race.
Once chosen, the new Prime Minister will have 15 days to prepare for the reopening of Parliament, and an ensuing confidence vote, on March 24. The new Leader will then be tasked with leading a historically unpopular Liberal Party into a Federal Election. The future Prime Minister will need to serve at least 69 days in office to avoid succeeding Charles Tupper as Canada’s shortest-tenured Prime Minister (May 1 – July 8, 1896).
The Significance: The upcoming Liberal leadership election will be a directional test for a Party that aggressively pursued progressive policy ideals for nearly a decade. After a decade of Liberal rule, the same voters who embraced the Liberal agenda during three elections now blame the Government for high inflation, an inaccessible housing market, and a bleak economic future.
Because of this, leadership candidates, and the eventual winner, must work to build momentum for their respective campaigns by appealing to disaffected former supporters—the language and policies they use to do this will be a strong indication of the future of Canada’s political discourse. Should the eventual winner be unsuccessful in winning back historically Liberal voters, the Conservative Party will be prepared to form a majority Government.
Should Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre become Canada’s third Prime Minister of 2025, he will have an unprecedented opportunity to roll back the dramatic progressivism of the Trudeau era. We should pray that he seizes the opportunity and becomes a steadfastly righteous defender of human dignity and religious liberty.
Read More: Liberal Party of Canada, “Liberal Party of Canada announces date of leadership vote”
US President Donald Trump Muses About Annexation of Canada
The Story: President-elect Donald Trump has continued his mockery of Canada as the “51st State” even after Justin Trudeau announced his intent to resign as Prime Minister. His comments have garnered a mixture of negative reactions from Canadian leaders, ranging from overt hostility from Ontario Premier Doug Ford to a more congenial, co-operative approach from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Following Trump’s comments about using “economic force” to take Canada, a growing number of Canadians have begun to fear that his statements on annexation, and on 25% import tariffs, are serious.
The Significance: The Canadian response to Trump’s prodding has vacillated between empty chest-beating, embarrassment for being brought so low, and, for some, the spark of something political philosopher George Grant once thought extinct: Canadian patriotism.
Patriotism, as opposed to a prideful nationalism, is a virtue that should be fostered. Patriotism is an outgrowth of a love for our neighbour that ensures we give due honour to our country—including a willingness to serve for the common good. Patriotism inspires citizens to feed the hungry, build communities, and serve those around them. The difficulty is to foster this true form of patriotism instead of an empty pride that can be easily wounded, and which leads to antagonism and conflict.
As for Trump’s comments, Canadians can likely rest easy knowing that they align closely with the dealmaking tactics he outlines in The Art of the Deal. President-elect Trump likely does not truly want Canada to become a state, and is probably using the political upheaval and embarrassment as leverage to get firm commitments on trade, defense, and border security. Still, we should pray that our political leaders have the wisdom to navigate these choppy waters, and the patriotism necessary to rebuild our country.
Read More: Chris Selley, The National Post, “Politicians baited by Trump’s ’51st state’ trolling are ignoring credible threats”
Quick Hit
JCCF launches court challenge against prorogation: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Reforms is challenging Prime Minister Trudeau’s parliamentary prorogation in Court, stating that prorogation “violates the constitutional principles of Parliamentary sovereignty and accountability.” However, the courts have no constitutional authority in the relationship between the Crown, represented by the Governor General, and Parliament, represented by the Prime Minister. By turning to the courts to adjudicate the relationship between the Crown, the Prime Minister, and the Legislature, the JCCF is effectively stating that the lack of constitutional authority does not matter; that the courts are the unquestioned highest authority with little to no check on their power.
Additionally, if the courts do seize the Royal Prerogative to block the prorogation of Parliament, then they have set a precedent that may allow them to block the Royal Prerogative to dismiss Parliament. In other words, this court case may open Pandora’s box to the possibility of judges suspending elections for any number of reasons: an outcome the JCCF and conservatives would no doubt find abhorrent. While conservatives may be angry about the Governor General’s decision, they should not tear down our constitutional framework out of anger at the Prime Minister and instead remember that famous quote from A Man for All Seasons: “Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!”
Read More: Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, “Canadians challenge Prime Minister’s decision to prorogue Parliament: ‘no reasonable justification’”