Rob Gillies, Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce his political future this week amid growing calls for his resignation.
Prime Minister Trudeau has become unpopular over a variety of issues, including rising food and housing costs, but despite mounting pressure to resign following the sudden resignation of his finance minister on Dec. 16, Weeks has remained publicly silent. The Prime Minister returned to Ottawa after the Christmas break.
“His long silence after this political drama speaks volumes about the weakness of his current position,” said Daniel Behrand, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.
Currently, all three opposition parties have said they support a vote to overthrow Prime Minister Trudeau’s minority government, but the threat is not immediate as Parliament is not currently in session. But his situation is becoming increasingly untenable, with members of his own party increasingly calling for his resignation.
Still, Trudeau’s party has no mechanism to oust him in the short term. If he holds out until Parliament reconvenes later this month, his Liberal Party could be forced out of power by a vote of no confidence that triggers an election, an outcome that could favor rival Conservatives. Very sensitive.
The 53-year-old was initially praised for returning the country to its liberal past when he was elected in 2015, but has become increasingly unpopular in recent years. The political change comes at a difficult time for Canada.
US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods unless Canada stops what he calls the flow of immigrants and drugs into the US. That’s even though the influx from Canada to the US is much smaller than the influx from Canada. Mexico.
Prime Minister Trudeau will participate virtually in Monday’s meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations.
If Trudeau resigns as leader, the Liberals could delay the resumption of parliament to give them time to choose a new leader.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberal Party does not hold a full majority in parliament and has long relied on NDP support to pass legislation and stay in power. But that support evaporated. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made it clear last month that the NDP would vote to topple the government. Other opposition parties have made similar statements.
First Published: January 6, 2025 6:26 AM PST
