Trudeau's Resignation What It Means for Canada - Insights by Fry News

Justin Trudeau's resignation: What's next in Canadian politics?

January 8, 2025

Justin Trudeau has decided to step down as Canada's prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party.

Which begs the question: what happens next?

Trudeau says the governor general has accepted his request to suspend parliament, meaning all proceedings, including debates and votes, will be suspended, but parliament will not be dissolved.

The extension will be in effect until March 24. During that time, the Liberal Party will choose its new leader... a process that usually takes about four months.

On Monday, the Liberal Party president said a "nationwide democratic process" would be used to select a new leader. However, he did not provide further details.

Federal leaders in Canada are elected during party conventions, in which party members vote to choose a leader. But even after parliament resumes on March 24, the newly elected Liberal leader may not be able to hold on to power for long.

The Conservative Party has a double-digit lead in opinion polls and has been trying for months to force a no-confidence motion in the House of Commons.

Canada's election is scheduled for October.

The Conservative Party is expected to make another attempt in March.

If a government loses a no-confidence motion or vote in the House, it is expected to resign or dissolve parliament, triggering a federal election.

Chrystia Freeland, Anita Anand and Mark Carney

Let's take a look at some of the names expected to join the Liberal leadership race.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland

One of the strongest contenders to replace Justin Trudeau is former Deputy Prime Minister and Toronto MP Chrystia Freeland.

Although she has long been seen as a trusted senior official in Canadian political circles, differences with the Prime Minister's Office led to her recent and abrupt resignation in December.

Her criticism of the Canadian prime minister in her publicly shared resignation letter is believed to have increased the pressure on Trudeau and made his resignation inevitable.

Chrystia Freeland was born in the western province of Alberta. Her mother is from Ukraine and Chrystia, 56, was a journalist before entering politics.

She became part of the House of Commons in 2013 and two years later, when Trudeau came to power, Chrystia joined his cabinet with a trade brief.

Chrystia, 56, was a journalist before entering politics.

As foreign minister, she helped Canada renegotiate free trade agreements with the United States and Mexico.

She was later named deputy prime minister and finance minister, the first woman to hold the position.

She oversaw Canada’s finances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When she resigned last month, she criticized Trudeau for not taking a tougher stance against Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian goods.

A 2019 Globe and Mail profile said: “Some see Freeland as the last hope for the liberal world, while others see her as a visionary far removed from reality.”

She has consistently supported Ukraine, which has been praised by some, but the Harvard-educated MP has also faced criticism ... even Trump recently called her “toxic.”

Former banker Mark Carney

Carney, a Harvard graduate, has never held a government position but has extensive economic experience. He has served as the head of the central banks of Canada and the United Kingd

Trudeau acknowledged that he had wanted to add Mark Carney to his team for a long time, most recently as finance minister.

“Carney would be a great addition, especially at a time when Canada needs good people in politics,” he said during a NATO conference in July 2024.

Carney, 59, who has been working as an advisor to Trudeau in recent months, is considered a strong candidate to become the country’s prime minister.

Carney, a Harvard graduate, has never held a government position but has extensive economic experience. He has served as the head of the central banks of Canada and the United Kingdom.

He also has expertise on environmental issues. As the UN's special envoy for climate action, he recently called the goal of net zero "the greatest business opportunity of our time."

Carney supports some liberal policies, such as a federal carbon tax, which is designed to protect the environment but is seen by conservatives as a financial burden on the public.

He has criticized Conservative Party leader Pierre Pollivier, saying that he has no plans for the country's future, only slogans.

"But I am a person who is part of the business, makes business decisions and I still do," Carney said.

Anita Anand, Minister for Transport

Anand, an Oxford graduate, specializes in financial law and corporate governance.

Anita Anand is considered one of the Liberal Party’s most committed leaders.

The 57-year-old lawyer entered politics in 2019, having been elected to the riding of Oakville, near Toronto.

Anand, an Oxford graduate, specializes in financial law and corporate governance.

She was immediately appointed Minister of Public Services and Procurement, where she oversaw the procurement of vaccines and protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, she became Minister of Defence, overseeing issues such as providing aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia and addressing sexual harassment in the Canadian military.

She was later given the position of overseeing the Treasury Board, which some saw as her demotion. Critics said it came on the day she expressed her desire to lead the party and was punished for it.

He was made Minister of Transport and Internal Trade during a cabinet reshuffle in December.

François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Many things go in his favor. Champagne hails from Quebec, a key province in Canada’s federal election.

Former businessman and international trade expert François-Philippe Champagne is also a Liberal minister and is considered a strong candidate for the party leadership.

But his rise has been slower than Anand’s.

Champagne, 54, entered parliament in 2015 and went on to become minister of international trade, foreign affairs and most recently, innovation, science and industry.

Many things go in his favor. Champagne hails from Quebec, a key province in Canada’s federal election.

He is also known by some as “Canada’s Energizer Bunny” because of his innovation work, which seeks to sell Canadian products around the world.

Political analysts consider him a good candidate because of his entrepreneurial skills.

Melanie Jolie, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Jolie participated in many of the government's key foreign policy issues, such as the crisis triggered by the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader by Indian agents in Canada.

Like Trudeau, Jolie represents the Montreal region.

Jolie, 45, is a familiar face to foreign leaders and has been representing Canada on the world stage since 2021.

As foreign minister, she has visited Ukraine several times to show Canada’s support. During the Israel-Hamas war, she traveled to Jordan to help evacuate Canadian citizens from there.

Jolie has been involved in several key foreign policy issues for the government, including the crisis triggered by the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada by alleged Indian agents.

An Oxford-educated lawyer, Jolie is a prominent politician and previously ran for mayor of Montreal.

Trudeau personally urged her to apply for federal office in politics.

Jolie said, “He would call me often and say, ‘Melissa, you should run.’” We want you to run.’

Senior advisers say Julie works well in a room full of six or seven hundred people, and close friends say she wants to run for the Liberal Party leadership.

Dominique LeBlanc, Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs

LeBlanc, 57, is a close and trusted ally of Trudeau. Their friendship goes back a long way, and LeBlanc also looked after Trudeau and his siblings as children.

LeBlanc, 57, is a close and trusted ally of Trudeau.

Their friendship goes back a long way, and LeBlanc also looked after Trudeau and his siblings as children.

He has served in key positions during difficult times, such as taking over as finance minister within hours of Freeland’s resignation.

LeBlanc also traveled to Mar-a-Lago with Trudeau in November to meet with Trump.

LeBlanc has been a member of parliament since 2000 and represents a riding in New Brunswick.

Like Trudeau, LeBlanc comes from a political family. His father served as a minister in Pierre Trudeau’s government and later became Governor General of Canada.

LeBlanc ran for the party leadership in 2008 but lost. He was not in the running when Trudeau later became party leader.

He has recovered from cancer and is considered a politician with a friendly and good political conversational style.

Christy Clark, former provincial premier

According to Radio Canada, Christy Clark is learning French because proficiency in the French language is required for federal politicians in Canada.

The former premier of British Columbia has expressed interest in the leadership of the Liberal Party.

In a statement in October, she said that if Trudeau resigns, she would like to be part of the discussion on the future of the Liberal Party and the country.

The 59-year-old was the premier of British Columbia from 2011 to 2017, where she balanced the environment and the energy industry.

She has said in several interviews in recent years that Trudeau has become a burden on the federal Liberals.

According to Radio Canada, Christy Clark is learning French because proficiency in the French language is required for federal politicians in Canada.

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