Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as Canada’s 23rd prime minister.
Trudeau, who is also the leader of the Liberal Party, has served as prime minister since November 2015; his father, Pierre Trudeau, 15th prime minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984.
Trudeau’s popularity has been in decline in recent years, with many Canadians blaming his economic policies for creating an affordable housing shortage and for his immigration policies that brought in a surplus number of newcomers that the country struggled to accommodate. On Dec. 16, Housing Minister Sean Fraser and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from his cabinet.
Trudeau acknowledged he has become a liability to his party, stating, “If I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option.”
Trudeau will remain as prime minister until a new leader his chosen for the Liberal Party, who will then become the nation’s leader.
While adding that he was always “a fighter,” he nonetheless declared, “I cannot be the one who can carry the Liberal standard into the next election.”
Photo: Province of British Columbia / Flickr Creative Commons
