Mr. Trudeau will remain in both roles until he is ousted as head of the Liberal Party, a process that could take several months. His successor will be prime minister, at least until federal elections are held.
The sudden and corrupt resignation of an influential Trudeau deputy last month highlighted his deep unpopularity after nearly a decade in power.
Here’s what you need to know about the rise and fall of Mr. Trudeau, and what might happen next.
What will happen to the Canadian government?
Mr. Trudeau closed Parliament until the end of March – a process known as prorogation – creating a long break to allow Liberal Party members to choose their next leader.
After the election of a new party leader, the next step would be to go to the federal elections. Canada’s next election must be held in October, but a vote could be called or forced earlier.
A Liberal government under a new prime minister could be short-lived. Soon after the start of the new session, the Liberal government is likely to face a confidence vote. It may lose such a vote, as it controls few seats in Parliament and has lost the support of all other parties. That could trigger a federal election.
The prime minister also has the power to dissolve Parliament at any time, which could trigger an election.
What does it mean to introduce Parliament?
Suspension of Parliament ends the current session of Parliament without dissolving it, which halts all parliamentary activities. The Governor General, officially the head of state as the representative of King Charles, takes the initiative to prorogue Parliament, at the request of the Prime Minister.
Once considered by Parliament, all existing laws and proposals are removed from the agenda, and all committees cease to meet.
While Parliament is under review, the activities of the legislative branch are suspended, but the rest of the government continues to function.
Who is Justin Trudeau?
Mr Trudeau grew up in the limelight as the son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada. In 2015, aged 43, Mr Trudeau became Canada’s second-youngest leader after his Liberal Party won a supermajority in parliament. Mr. Trudeau was social media savvy and enjoyed a long political vacation after his election. (She had beautiful hair too.)
In 2017, Mr. Trudeau came under pressure to oppose Donald J. Trump, the newly elected president of the US. As Mr. Trump imposing restrictions on immigration, Mr. Trudeau also highlighted Canada’s openness to asylum seekers, saying, “Diversity is our strength.”
While in office, Mr. Trudeau put forward two issues. One was climate change. Another was reconciliation with the Natives, despite the damage caused by the residential school system which is full of abuse. He also followed through on a pledge to legalize marijuana.
In 2019, the Liberals continued to hold power with Mr. Trudeau as their leader, but by a narrow margin, and failed to secure a majority in Parliament. The Liberals needed the support of smaller parties to advance Mr. Trump’s legislative agenda. Trudeau.
During the coronavirus crisis in 2020, Mr Trudeau became the first leader of the Group of 7 to self-isolate, after his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for Covid-19. (The couple is now separated.) The following year, with his approval ratings still high, he called a snap election, saying he wanted a strong mandate for his party to lead Canada through the pandemic and restore the economy.
Voters returned him to office in 2021, but the Liberals again failed to win a majority in Parliament. Mr. Trudeau has faced heavy criticism from conservative opponents for some of his pandemic and recovery policies.
Why is his government unpopular?
Economy: Canada’s post-pandemic inflation has fallen to 8 percent, although it has fallen below 2 percent. Unemployment remains high, at about 6.4 percent. The Conservative opposition defeated Mr Trudeau’s carbon-tax plan.
Houses: The cost of housing in many of Canada’s major cities is unaffordable. An economic analysis this year found that in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, prices would have to fall, or incomes would have to rise impossibly, to restore affordability.
Immigration: In October, Mr. Trudeau said he was tightening Canada’s immigration policies after the country welcomed nearly three million people in three years, straining health care and other services. “In turbulent times as we emerge from this pandemic, between addressing the needs of the workforce and maintaining population growth, we haven’t quite found the balance,” she said.
Scandals: In 2018, Mr Trudeau was accused of groping a reporter in 2000, allegations he denied. The federal ethics commissioner in 2019 ruled that Mr. Trudeau attempted to bypass, undermine and discredit his former justice minister and attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, in connection with a criminal case against SNC-Lavalin, an international engineering and construction company based in in Montreal. That same year, Mr. Trudeau wearing blackface or brownface as a student in the 1990s and as a teacher at a private prep school in 2001.
Fighting: The adherence of Mr. Trudeau’s power fell in September when the left-wing New Democratic Party deprived the Liberals of the guaranteed support needed to pass the law. Last month, Chrystia Freeland, the deputy prime minister and finance minister, abruptly resigned, a bitter rebuke to Mr Trudeau.
Who are the most vying to follow him?
Conservatives: Pierre Poilievre has led the Conservative Party since 2022, calling himself the anti-Trudeau, active and down to earth. He supported the blockade of the Canadian capital, Ottawa, in 2022 led by truck drivers who were against vaccination laws and pandemic restrictions. Mr. Poilievre has been eyeing government since at least 1999, when as a university student he wrote a prize-winning essay about what he would do as prime minister.
In a video posted on social media on Monday, Mr. Poilievre criticized members of Mr. Trudeau Liberal Party for keeping him in power until his popularity declines.
Freelancers: After her resignation last month, there was speculation that Chrystia Freeland, former deputy prime minister and finance minister, will launch his own bid to lead the Liberal Party.
On Monday, Trudeau had kind words for Ms Freeland. He declined to share details of what happened between them, but people familiar with the events surrounding his departure say Trudeau tried to fire him via Zoom call and offered him a ministerial position without portfolio, which he declined.
Other Liberal contenders include Dominic LeBlanc, who became finance minister when Ms Freeland resigned; Mélanie Joly, Canadian consular officer from 2021; and Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada, who also led the Bank of England.
Ephrat Livni reporting contributed.
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