Your questions on Trudeau's resignation, answered

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he will step down after nearly a decade in office, bowing to increasing political and public pressure for new leadership. The announcement, while anticipated, comes at a critical moment for Canada both domestically and internationally.

Trudeau's resignation, effective once a successor is chosen, is expected to delay a federal election until the spring. He has faced mounting calls from within his own party to make way for a new leader who could challenge the Conservative Party, which currently leads in the polls. Although Trudeau had previously stated his intention to remain in office, the resignation of Chrystia Freeland from cabinet on December 16 marked a sharp rebuke to his leadership. Trudeau reflected on his next steps over the holidays and shared his decision with his children over dinner on Sunday evening. He explained, "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."

While Trudeau is stepping down, he will remain in office until a successor is found. In the meantime, Parliament has been prorogued and will not resume until March 24.

Despite the suspension of Parliament, the federal government is still able to respond to major issues such as potential tariffs from the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico unless these countries take action on border security. Although Parliament cannot pass new laws while prorogued, Canada could respond to the tariffs through counter-tariffs, as these do not require parliamentary approval.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford emphasized that Trudeau's primary focus should be on addressing Trump’s tariff threat before stepping down. Immigration Minister Marc Miller confirmed that the government is already preparing for a second Trump administration, with ongoing discussions at a Canada-U.S. cabinet committee level.

There is no set date for a federal election, and opposition parties will have to wait for Parliament to reconvene before they can attempt to bring down the minority government through a non-confidence motion. If successful, this could trigger an election, but it is unlikely to occur before spring. Should the government remain in power, an election is set to take place in late October.

Regarding legislative matters, any government bills that had not received royal assent before the prorogation are no longer valid. These bills would need to be reintroduced in a new session of Parliament if they are to be revived.

The process to select a new Liberal leader has not been scheduled yet, but the party’s national board will meet soon to initiate the leadership race. While polls suggest the Liberals may face defeat in the next election, some party members, like Anthony Housefather, are hopeful that new leadership will help improve the party's chances.

As the leadership transition progresses, many notable figures within the Liberal Party are expected to vie for the position, with some prominent and lesser-known candidates positioning themselves for a shot at the role.