As Canadian politics has rapidly developed throughout the past year, Canada is entering into a new period of leadership. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political career comes to an end, the future leader of the Liberal Party remains in question. One thing for sure is that Canadians will have a new Prime Minister before the end of March. These chaotic few months in Canadian politics deserve an explanation. Here is a breakdown of it and what happens next.

There is no question that a change has been brewing in the Liberal Party. After receiving a decisive victory in the 2015 election, Trudeau and the Liberals are no longer as popular as they once were. Although nine years in power brought positive policy initiatives like pharmacare, dental care, child care, and effective environmental policies, the Liberals were still grappling with various issues from the Me to We scandal to the high cost of living. One issue, however, featuring Chrystia Freeland’s resignation was the tipping point that would lead to a new era in Canadian politics.
Chrystia Freeland, the former deputy prime minister and minister of finance resigned on December 16; the same day she was supposed to deliver the 2024 Fall economic statement. What was significant about this resignation was both the timing and the fact that Freeland and Trudeau worked as close allies for years. Freeland’s resignation letter signalled that Trudeau had asked her to step down. “In making your decision, you made clear that I no longer credibly enjoy that confidence and possess the authority that comes with it” wrote Freeland in her resignation letter. Following this, Trudeau’s popularity plummeted, and the NDP and Bloc Quebecois reversed their support for him. Pierre Poilievre then announced his plan to table a fourth motion of no confidence when parliament resumed in January.
Late December and the beginning of January were filled with rumours and questions about Trudeau’s future. Similar to Joe Biden’s silence after his June debate performance, Trudeau quietly considered whether he would remain as Prime Minister. Despite appointing a new cabinet, several resignations flowed in, most prominently from the Atlantic, Quebec, and Ontario Liberal caucuses. Chair of the Atlantic Liberal caucus, Kody Blois wrote, “The discussion this morning centred around the need for you to resign as the Leader of the Liberal Party and to urgently allow for a process to determine a new leader to replace you.”
On January 6, an emotional Trudeau announced he would suspend Parliament until a new Liberal leader is selected in March. “This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” said Trudeau.
Following this announcement, Liberals across Canada are called to elect a new leader who will become the next Prime Minister once selected. There have been some Liberals putting their names in for the role and even more deciding not to get involved. There were many reasons why the Liberal party members would not want to run for leadership. Minister of Transport Anita Anand emphasized her goals to focus on her non-political career while Mélanie Joly chose to remain in her role as Minister of Foreign Affairs to deal with potential issues arising from the Trump administration.
A few frontrunners have emerged within the race. Former governor of the Bank of Canada and England, Mark Carney announced he was running for leadership citing his experience dealing with economic crises. Former deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland also announced her bid for leadership as she looks to distance herself from Trudeau’s tax policies. Other candidates for the role include MP Jamie Battiste from Cape Breton who would become the nation’s first Indigenous Prime Minister, anti-monarchist MP Chandra Arya, Quebec-born MP and businessman Frank Baylis, and the current Leader of the Government (responsible for coordinating the government’s day-to-day business) and youngest candidate, Karina Gould.
Regardless of who becomes the next Prime Minister, they must be prepared to go up against the Conservative machine led by Poilievre. Some may call for Liberals to rebuild their party rather than focus on victory, while others may see this significant change in the party as enough to be victorious in 2025. This is an uncertain period in Canadian politics, and especially with misinformation on the rise, it is important to remain informed and educated about this unprecedented process.