Growing revolt: Dozens of Justin Trudeau’s liberal MPs call for Prime Minister’s resignation
Dozens of MPs from Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party now believe the prime minister must resign. This follows the resignation of his deputy, Chrystia Freeland, on December 16. Freeland’s departure, after serving as finance minister and deputy prime minister, shook the party. In her resignation letter, she criticized Trudeau for not taking a stronger stance against U.S. tariffs proposed by Donald Trump, which could harm Canada’s economy.
Freeland’s exit triggered a wave of discontent within the Liberal Party. A meeting of 51 Ontario Liberal MPs revealed that the majority of them believe Trudeau’s time in office has come to an end. Ontario, the most populous province, holds the core of Liberal support, and the loss of confidence from these MPs signals Trudeau’s waning authority. Additionally, 21 MPs have publicly called for his resignation.
This crisis escalated further with the New Democratic Party (NDP) pulling its support from the government. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh announced on December 22 that his party would oust Trudeau when Parliament resumes in January. If the NDP follows through, it could trigger a spring election.
The resignation and political turmoil caught the attention of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who mocked Trudeau, calling him “governor” and suggesting Canada was becoming a U.S. territory. Trump also claimed credit for Canada’s new border security plan, which seemed to counteract his tariff threat.
In response to the unrest, no Ontario MPs supported Trudeau’s continued leadership. Even Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, the new housing minister, said Trudeau’s future leadership depended on potential alternatives. While some MPs are calling for Trudeau to resign on his own terms, others are concerned that his continued leadership could guarantee the Liberals’ defeat in the next election.
Some sources speculate that Freeland, despite her resignation, may be positioning herself as a potential successor. Her decision to stay in politics signals she could run for Liberal leadership if the party faces an election in the near future.
