Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignationಌ came as no surprise, as his position had been becoming increasingly untenable over the last several months. When Chrystia Freeland, his former trusted ally and finance minister, decided to quit the Trudeau cabinet on December 16th, it was the last nail in the coffin for Trudeau. After that, it was only a matter of time before he resigned. The fact that he survived so long in the face of mounting opposition not just from the Conservatives but also from the leadership and rank-and-file members of his Liberal Party points to his attempts to fight the inevitable. While announcing his resignation, Trudeau said, “Friends, as you all know, I’m a fighter,” and, “Every bone in my body has always told me to fight, because I care deeply about Canadians.”
End Of An Era For Liberal Politics In Canada?
𝔉Once the poster boy of liberal politics, Trudeau has lost much of his shine. India will be glad to see the last of him as under him relations between New Delhi and Ottawa sank to a new low.
🎉But he had reached a point of no return, and his resignation ahead of Wednesday’s meeting of senior Liberal Party leaders was an acknowledgment that it was over for him. The party realised that Trudeau was becoming an increasing liability and he had to go.
✃Justin Trudeau’s long innings in Canadian politics has come to a close. Trudeau burst onto the scene in 2015 as a poster boy of liberal and progressive politics. His father was a popular and well-loved former prime minister, Pierre Trudeau, who was compared to Jack Kennedy at that time. The flamboyant prime minister served as Canada’s prime minister for nearly 16-years. Like his father, Justin promoted liberal values and was popular not just in Canada but across the world.
Liberal Icon
🏅Trudeau embraced many issues dear to liberals, including championing diversity, gender equality, and immigration. He legalised cannabis and tried to balance economic growth with environmental protection. He was the leader of the Liberal Party for 11 years and was Prime Minister for nine.
But along the way, he lost much of the goodwill that he had first generated. For one, there were a series of scandals that marked his tenure in office. He was accused of accepting gifts, including private holidays from interested parties. His family members received money from a charity that had been awarded a major government contract by Trudeau. However, the main reasons for his unpopularity were soaring inflation, high food ൩prices, a housing crisis that led to a 30–40 percent increase in home prices, and the steady flow of immigrants into Canada that was being effectively used by the opposition Conservatives to target Trudeau and his party.
Donald Trump Factor
US President-elect Donald Trump ꦿalso played a role in tarnishing Trudeau’s image. Trump’s threat of 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian goods, and addressing Trudeau as governor of America’s 51st state instead of a sovereign country, angered many Canadians. Trudeau, who went to meet with Trump soon after the latter won the elections, had refused to confront the US President-elect. Instead, he kept mum, swallowing all the insults, and appeared weak and ineffective.
𓂃Despite Trump’s threats, it is a fact that the US is dependent on Canada for many of its imports including steel and aluminum products. Canada exports both oil and natural gas to the US. So it will not be a one way traffic for Trump. Chrystia Freeland, the former finance minister, had differences with Trudeau on how to tackle the threatened 25 percent tariff. Justin Trudeau’s political vulnerability had made it difficult for him to respond to Trump’s threats.
India-Canada Ties
𓄧India-Canada ties had gone to a new low during Justin Trudeau’s tenure, with no less a person than the Canadian prime minister accusing New Delhi of plotting the assassination of Canadian Sikh Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. Nijjar was a Khalistan activist. New Delhi denied Canada’s charges and had asked Ottawa to provide credible evidence for investigation. Canada had not done so but the bitter feud led to tit for tat expulsions of diplomats from the two capitals. India will be hoping to build better ties with Canada with Trudeau out of the way. New Delhi has often charged Canada of promoting and encouraging Khalistan groups that want to break away from India. Though there was support for the movement at one point in the early 80’s, it no longer appeals to Punjab’s Sikh community. Activists keep the Khalistan sentiment alive in Canada, the US and the UK.
Trudeau Will Remain Lame-Duck PM
Though Justin Trudeau has promised to step down, he will remain a lame-duck prime minister till the party chooses a new leader. The new Liberal leader will face a confidence motion in Parliament 🦂when it convenes on March 24. General elections in Canada are slated to be held by October 2025. However, with the opposition saying they have no faith in the Liberals, elections could be held earlier. Opinion polls give Canada’s Conservatives a clean sweep. In the latest poll by Nanos, the Liberals trail the Conservatives 47 per cent to 21 per cent.