Ottawa [Canada], January 7 (ANI): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he would resign as leader of the Liberal Party and as Prime Minister as soon as a new candidate is found for the post. He said that the Canadian Parliament would be prorogued or suspended until March 24.
While addressing a press conference on Monday, Trudeau said he advised Governor General Mary Simon that Canada needs a new session of Parliament. She agreed to the request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.
“The fact is, despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralysed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history,” he said, referring to the government elected in 2021.
He said, “That’s why this morning, I advised the Governor General that we need a new session of Parliament. She has granted this request and the House will now be prorogued until March 24.”
Here’s what the prorogation of Parliament means for the public and government:Prorogation enables Canada‘s PM to hit pause on Parliament. The government remains in power, however, all parliamentary activity, including existing bills and committee work to studies and investigations, comes to a halt, CBC News reported. A speech from the throne is then scheduled to start the next parliament session and outline the government’s intentions going forward.
Prorogation is different from dissolution as it terminates parliament and triggers a general election. In prorogation, Liberals will avoid a confidence vote and get more time to run a leadership race.
Trudeau stated that confidence votes which come after March 24 will “allow Parliament to weigh in on confidence in a way that is entirely in keeping with all the principles of democracy,” according to CBC News report.
When asked why he opted for prorogation instead of immediately setting off the next poll, he responded, “Anyone who’s been watching politics closely over the past months will know that Parliament has been entirely seized by obstruction, by filibustering and a total lack of productivity.”
Trudeau said, “It’s time for a reset. It’s time for the temperature to come down.”
Prorogation has been used as a tactic during political crises. Earlier in 2020, Trudeau suspended Parliament during the COVID-19 pandemic and controversy over the WE Charity student volunteer grant program.
The Conservatives under then-PM Stephen Harper used prorogation to avoid a confidence vote in 2008, preventing all three opposition parties in their attempt to defeat his government, according to a CBC News report.
Harper’s government again used the tactic for two months in 2010, that time to kill a committee inquiry into the treatment of Afghan detainees. Liberal government under Jean Chretien was accused of using prorogation to avoid bringing a report on the sponsorship scandal in 2002-03.
During the press conference on Monday, Trudeau said, “I intend to resign as party leader and as Prime Minister after the party chooses next leader. If I have to fight internal battles I can’t be a good candidate. I have asked the liberal part president to search for a new candidate for the post of Prime Minister.”
Trudeau said that he will not put forth his candidature as a potential Prime Minister. “I will not be putting my candidature. The Liberal Party is an important institution in our country. We were elected for 3rd time in 2021 to advance Canada‘s stand in the world. I never bow down when faced with a fight but I do this job because of the interest of Canadians and the interest of democracy that I hold dear. And it is clear, I can’t be that candidate due to internal battles,” he said.
Trudeau, while speaking about Former Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, said that he expected her to continue as the Deputy Prime Minister. “Chrystia (Freeland) has been a political partner for many years. I had hoped she would continue as deputy pm but she chose otherwise,” he said. Trudeau added that Pierre Pollivere of the Conservative Party was not right for the country. “Pierre Pollivere‘s vision is not right for this country,” he said. (ANI)
“What a great Nation it would be!!!”: Donald Trump reacts to Justin Trudeau’s resignation, reiterates his stance on Canada
Washington, DC [US], January 7 (ANI): US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday used Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s announcement of his plan to step down to reiterate his stance that Canada becomes the 51st state of the US.
In a post shared on the social media platform Truth Social, he said that Trudeau resigned as he knew that US can no longer suffer the massive trade deficits and subsidies that Canada requires to stay afloat.
Trump noted that Canada will have no tarriffs, taxes will go down and they would be secure from the threat of Russian and Chinese ships if they merge with the US. “Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!,” he posted on Truth Social. Trump’s statement came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday (local time) that he would resign as the leader of the Liberal Party and as Prime Minister as soon as a new candidate is found for the post. Trudeau said that he had spoken to the Liberal Party President to start looking for a new Prime Ministerial candidate. “I intend to resign as party leader and as Prime Minister after the party choses next leader. If I have to fight internal battles I can’t be a good candidate. I have asked the liberal party president to search for a new candidate for the post of Prime Minister,” he said.
Trudeau said he advised Governor General Mary Simon that Canada needs a new session of Parliament. He said that she agreed to the request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.
“We have worked for this country. We are at a critical moment in the world. Canadian resilience motivates me to serve. I am a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians, I care deeply about this country and I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians. The fact is despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralysed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history. That’s why this morning, I advised the Governor General that we need a new session of Parliament. She has granted this request and the House will now be prorogued until March 24,” Trudeau said.
“Over the holidays, I have also had a chance to reflect and to have long talks with my family about our future. Throughout the course of my career, any success I have personally achieved has been because of their support, their encouragement. So, last night over dinner I told my kids about the decision that I am sharing with you today. I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister after the party selects its next leader…Last night I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election and it has become clear to me that I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” he added.
Trudeau said that he will not put forth his candidature as a potential Prime Minister. “I will not be putting my candidature. Liberal Party is an important institution in our country. We were elected for 3rd time in 2021 to advance Canada‘s stand in the world. I never bow down when faced with a fight but I do this job because of the interest of Canadians and the interest of democracy that I hold dear. And it is clear I can’t be that candidate due to internal battles,” he said.
Speaking about Canada‘s former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau said that he expected her to continue as the Deputy Prime Minister. “Chrystia (Freeland) has been a political partner for many years. I had hoped she would continue as deputy pm but she chose otherwise,” he said.
Trudeau added that Pierre Pollivere of the Conservative Party was not right for the country. “Pierre Pollivere’s vision is not right for this country,” he said. (ANI)
