Justin Trudeau Resign Live updates: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says ‘nothing has changed’

Justin Trudeau criticized opposition leader Pierre Poilievre’s vision for the country, calling it “not the right one for Canadians.”

“Stopping the fight against climate change doesn’t make sense. We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future. And Pierre Poilievre is not offering that,” Trudeau said while addressing a press conference.

After nearly a decade in office, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation. While the decision wasn’t entirely unexpected, given the recent challenges in his political career, the fall of the ‘golden boy’ of Canadian politics has left many wondering what went wrong. His resignation, announced on Monday, signals the start of a leadership transition that will shape Canada’s future. Read more here.

Justin Trudeau is set to be the seventh longest-serving prime minister in Canadian history after spending more than nine years in office. 23 people have served in the role till date.

The longest serving was the Liberal Party’s William Lyon Mackenzie King, who was prime minister for more than 21 years between 1921 and 1948.

More recently, Trudeau’s father, Pierre, spent more than 15 years as prime minister, serving from 1968 to 1979, and then again from 1980 to 1984.

Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly thanked the outgoing Liberal leader for his “leadership, determination and sacrifice”.

“Over the last ten years, the Prime Minister devoted himself to making this country a better place for all Canadians,” she wrote on X.

Candance Laing, head of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, has thanked the Liberal leader for his decision in light of what some experts say is a potential trade war between the North American neighbours.

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau read the room and made the right call by announcing his resignation today,” Laing said in a statement.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed “one regret” as he revealed his plans to step down from the top post. He referred to the country’s election system as something he wished to change.

“If I have one regret, particularly as we approach this election — well, probably many regrets that I will think of. But I do wish we’d been able to change the way we elect our governments in this country so that people could simply choose a second choice, or a third choice on the same ballot,” he said on the issue.

BBC places Indian-origin leader Anita Anand as one of the top 5 contenders who could replace Trudeau after his resignation. Anand is a Canadian lawyer and politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade. Read more about her here.

The election in Canada must be held on or before October 20, but could be brought forward.

Trudeau’s announcement throws open the doors to a fierce political battle to be Canada’s next leader. Polls show the Liberals losing badly to the opposition Conservatives in an election that must be held by late October, according to the Guardian.

The Canadian dollar is up about half a US cent, according to reports in the local media.

Thierry Wizman, a financial markets economist, told Globe and Mail that an early election is needed.

“We’ve asserted …. that should Canada move toward an early election in which a Conservative-led government emerges, the CAD could appreciate, and/or USD/CAD might peak earlier than otherwise. This is based on the view that certain outcomes will likely improve for Canada under a Conservative-led government, and even in anticipation of a Conservative-led government,” he said.

US President-elect Donald Trump has reacted to Justin Trudeau’s announcement by suggesting again that Canada should become the US’s “51st state”.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Trudeau resigned because Canada relies on subsidies from the US to stay afloat.

“If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be,” the post from Trump said.

Liberal Party president Sachit Mehra announced that the national board will meet this week to begin the process of selecting a new leader to replace Justin Trudeau. In a statement on X, Mehra expressed that Liberals across Canada are “immensely grateful” to Trudeau for his over a decade of leadership.

Trudeau “rebuilt our Party, making it the most open and inclusive moment in Canadian politics,” Mehra said.

“We thank him for his service to Canada, and we look forward to his continued leadership until a new leader is chosen,” he added.

Canadian media have tipped former finance minister Chrystia Freeland as a possible contender to taker over the Liberal Party along with the former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, a Canadian who also previously led the Bank of Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce a significant cabinet reshuffle today.

Sources from CBC News and Radio-Canada revealed that Ottawa MP David McGuinty and Toronto MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith are set to join the cabinet. The reshuffle is expected to involve at least 10 members

Chrystia Freeland, the finance minister who resigned last month and sent discussion about a resignation by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau into overdrive, has thanked him for his years of service and wished him well.

Freeland is a likely candidate for prime minister after being Trudeau’s most powerful minister.

Trudeau in his resignation comments called Freeland “an incredible political partner” and said he had hoped she would continue as his deputy prime minister.

Journalists asked what happened between them and he replied that “I not someone who is in the habit of sharing private conversations.”

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has said that nothing has changed after Trudeau resigned.

“Nothing has changed. Every Liberal MP and Leadership contender supported EVERYTHING Trudeau did for 9 years, and now they want to trick voters by swapping in another Liberal face to keep ripping off Canadians for another 4 years, just like Justin. The only way to fix what Liberals broke is a carbon tax election to elect common sense Conservatives who will bring home Canada’s promise,” he wrote on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Parliament will be suspended until March 24 as the process to select a new leader gets underway.

“2025 is looking good,” Tesla CEO Musk declared on X, as he reshared the post that highlighted major events of the year after Justin Trudeau resigned as Canadian PM.

Announcing his resignation, Justin Trudeau said he cannot be the best option for the Canadian people going forward.

“If I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” he said in the news conference.