Yet another woke Western leader has fallen. After the resignations of Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand, Nicola Sturgeon (quickly followed by Humza Yousaf) in Scotland, and the impending end of the Biden presidency in the U.S., Canada’s ultra-liberal PM is about to go too.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he will resign as leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, temporarily staying on as PM until his party chooses a successor. Speaking in Ottawa on Monday, Trudeau said he was standing down because parliament “has been paralysed for months” and he could not lead his party into the next election due to having to fight “internal battles.”
The resignation comes after weeks and weeks of turmoil for his minority government, marked by declining popularity, narrowly surviving a series of no-confidence votes, and growing calls for Trudeau’s departure. His political standing has been further undermined by tensions with incoming U.S. president Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods.
Deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland’s resignation in December dealt a significant blow to Trudeau’s leadership. Freeland, a key ally, quit after a disagreement with Trudeau over his response to Trump’s tariff threats. Her departure marked the first open dissent within Trudeau’s cabinet.
In a bid to stabilise his government, Trudeau announced a major cabinet shakeup late last month, replacing one third of his team. However, these efforts have done little to reverse the slide in public support. Recent polls show the Liberals trailing the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, by a staggering 20-point margin.
Trudeau’s resignation also marks the end of a nine-year tenure for a man dubbed the ‘king of woke.’ His policies drew sharp criticism for their perceived authoritarian undercurrents masked as progressive reform. The Online Harms Bill, for instance, was condemned for criminalising speech deemed offensive or hateful, with vague definitions that could potentially stifle legitimate debate and dissent, such as opposing certain aspects of trans ideology.
Trudeau also prioritised vaguely defined issues like “anti-Palestinian racism” amidst rising anti-Semitism, while also taking an extreme approach to assisted suicide, where disabled people can now face unsolicited offers of euthanasia.
With his later years in office marred by controversies, political missteps, and economic challenges, Trudeau’s personal relationship with Donald Trump has been particularly fraught. The U.S. president-elect frequently belittled him on social media and suggested Canada could become the 51st state of the United States.
The son of former PM Pierre Trudeau, Justin Trudeau’s political career began in 2008 when he was elected to represent a working-class Montreal neighborhood. Before entering politics, he worked as a snowboard instructor, bartender, bouncer, and teacher.
