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What happens next for Canada? What happens next for Canada?
(about 7 hours later)
After weeks of mounting pressure to step down, Justin Trudeau has announced he will resign as Canada's prime minister and as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.After weeks of mounting pressure to step down, Justin Trudeau has announced he will resign as Canada's prime minister and as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
The resignation brings a long political chapter to an end. Trudeau has been in power since 2015, when he brought the Liberals back to power from the political wilderness. The resignation brings a long political chapter to an end. Trudeau has been in office since 2015, when he brought the Liberals back to power from the political wilderness.
Trudeau said he will remain at the helm until a new Liberal leader is selected.Trudeau said he will remain at the helm until a new Liberal leader is selected.
But many questions remain for the Liberals, including who will take over and how they will manage a looming federal election. So what happens next? But many questions remain for the party, including who will take over and how they will manage a looming federal election. So what happens next?
What is a prorogued Parliament?
Addressing Canadians on Monday, Trudeau said the country's governor general had accepted his request to prorogue Parliament - essentially a suspension that will stop all proceedings, including debates and votes, without dissolving parliament.Addressing Canadians on Monday, Trudeau said the country's governor general had accepted his request to prorogue Parliament - essentially a suspension that will stop all proceedings, including debates and votes, without dissolving parliament.
While a routine part of parliamentary procedure, it is sometimes used by governments to buy time during a political crisis.While a routine part of parliamentary procedure, it is sometimes used by governments to buy time during a political crisis.
This latest prorogation will freeze parliament until 24 March, just four days before a scheduled 28 March vote on supply to allow the federal government to operate. Parliament was most recently prorogued by Trudeau in August 2020, when his government was facing an ethics scandal over its handling of a contract with a charity.
It is likely the Liberal caucus will try to have their new leader in place by that date, though it is so far unclear how that leader will be chosen. This latest prorogation will freeze parliament until 24 March.
Trudeau defiant in face of turmoil
Trudeau facing cold reality after lonely week on world stage
Who will lead the Liberals?
It is likely the Liberal caucus will try to have a new leader in place by the end of the prorogation period, though it is so far unclear how that leader will be chosen.
Typically, leaders of Canada's federal parties are chosen over a four or five month period, a process that includes a formal leadership convention.Typically, leaders of Canada's federal parties are chosen over a four or five month period, a process that includes a formal leadership convention.
On Monday, Trudeau said a new leader would be chosen through a "robust, nationwide, competitive process". On Monday, Trudeau said a new leader would be chosen through a "robust, nationwide, competitive process".
"I am excited to see the process unfold in the months ahead," he said. The president of the Liberal party, Sachit Mehra, said soon afterwards the party would convene a meeting of its national board this week to select a new leader.
There is no clear successor to Trudeau, but several prominent Liberals including former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Transport Minister Anita Anand and formal central banker Mark Carney have been floated as possible leaders.There is no clear successor to Trudeau, but several prominent Liberals including former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Transport Minister Anita Anand and formal central banker Mark Carney have been floated as possible leaders.
Polls indicate that if a Canadian election were to be held today, the official opposition Conservative Party would be handed a decisive victory. When is Canada's election?
Riding high in opinion polls with a double-digit lead, the Conservatives have tried for months to trigger an election - which must occur before October - by bringing a series of no-confidence votes in the House of Commons. Canada must have its next federal election by October, but it's likely a vote will be called before that.
If a government loses a confidence motion or vote in the House, it is expected to resign or seek the dissolution of parliament, triggering a federal election. Riding high in opinion polls with a double-digit lead, the official opposition Conservative Party have tried for months to trigger an election by bringing a series of no-confidence votes in the House of Commons.
The government needs the backing of a majority of the 338 members of parliament in a no-confidence vote. The Liberals are 17 seats shy of that, meaning they require support from members of Canada's other parties.The government needs the backing of a majority of the 338 members of parliament in a no-confidence vote. The Liberals are 17 seats shy of that, meaning they require support from members of Canada's other parties.
Trudeau defiant in face of turmoil So far, members of the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) have supplied Trudeau with enough votes to maintain control.
Trudeau facing cold reality after lonely week on world stage But on Monday, after Trudeau announced he would step aside, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he would vote to bring down the Liberal Party, no matter who the leader is.
"They do not deserve another chance," he said.
Whoever is in charge of the Liberals by 24 March will not have much time to govern.
And after prorogation ends, the first vote will be a confidence motion. If the government loses that confidence motion, it is expected to resign or seek the dissolution of parliament, triggering a federal election.
Polls indicate that if a Canadian election were to be held today, the official opposition Conservative Party would win decisively.
Who is Pierre Poilievre?
Pierre Poilievre is the leader of Canada's Conservative Party.
If opinion polls are any indication, he is odds-on favourite to be Canada's next prime minister.
Since taking over his party in 2022, Poilievre has been an especially formidable opponent to the prime minister, frequently calling on Trudeau to bring an early election.
Poilievre has branded himself as anti-elite and anti-Trudeau, a down-to-earth everyman.
He was ejected from Parliament in April after refusing to apologise for calling Trudeau a "wacko" and "extremist" during a question period.