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January 12, 2025

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Announces Resignation

Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would resign in the coming weeks after nearly 10 years in power. He will stay in office until Parliament chooses a new prime minister, however. (Generally, party leaders in Canada are chosen over a four or five month period, and the process includes a formal leadership convention. Trudeau’s Liberal Party will choose a new leader on March 9.)

Prime Minister Trudeau said Canada’s governor general had accepted his request to prorogue Parliament, which means all proceedings, including debates and votes on legislative matters, will be suspended until March 24. (Prorogation does not dissolve Parliament.)

Prime Minister Trudeau’s decision was the result of rising pressure from members of his own Liberal Party who were worried about the party’s disappointing showing so far in pre-election polls.

Among the contenders to replace Prime Minister Trudeau are former Governor of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney; ex-Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland; former British Columbia Premier Christy Clark; current Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry François-Philippe Champagne; current Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly; and current Transport Minister Anita Anand. Read more about each of these individuals at this link.

So, what will happen on March 24? As BBC has explained, after the prorogation period ends, the first vote in Parliament will be a confidence motion. If the current government loses that confidence motion, it is expected to resign or seek the dissolution of Parliament, triggering a federal election. (The government needs the backing of a majority of the 338 members of Parliament for a no-confidence vote.) If Parliament is dissolved, it is estimated a federal election would happen either May 5 or May 12.

Regardless of what does occur on March 24, however, Canada must hold its next federal election by October 2025.

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