Jan. 7, (Xinhua/GNA) — Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced Monday that he is stepping down as the Liberal Party leader, but will stay on as prime minister until a new leader is selected, and the announcement has left Canada and Canadians treading water in choppy seas.
The House of Commons was scheduled to resume on Jan. 27, with the Conservatives planning to advance a non-confidence motion. Other opposition parties had indicated their readiness to bring down Trudeau’s minority Liberal government.
Trudeau’s request for prorogation buys the Liberals time to run an expedited leadership race, without facing a confidence vote. Prorogation until March 24, the longest period allowed by law for the House to be out of session, is expected to be approved officially by the Governor General. This will end the current parliamentary session, and halt all legislative business, including those proposed in Trudeau’s controversial fall economic statement.
A new session of Parliament would begin with a Speech from the Throne, setting the stage for a key confidence vote that could trigger a federal election in May if the Liberals fall. Trudeau’s decision to continue as prime minister through the next two months, comes as Canada braces for the start of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and his threats of 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada.
A majority of members of Parliament from the regional Liberal caucuses told Trudeau over the Christmas break, that he must step aside. A national, daylong caucus to discuss the matter had been set for Wednesday, but this is now moot with a leadership race underway.
Liberal members of Parliament and party members will be briefed in the coming days on the party’s constitution and caucus’ role in the upcoming leadership campaign.
According to the Liberal Party of Canada’s constitution, “upon the occurrence of a leadership trigger event,” or if the leader announces resignation, a meeting of the national board of directors must be called within 27 days. In consultation with the caucus, the board could appoint an interim leader. The top party officials, would also be required to set a date for a leadership vote and other parameters around the race.
Trudeau has been the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada since 2013, and prime minister since 2015.
GNA