Justin Trudeau resigns as Liberal Party leader: Canadians, leaders react after the prime minister's historic news conference

With Trudeau announcing that he will step down as leader of the Liberal Party, it starts the process of finding his replacement.

As part of the Liberals' constitution, party president Sachit Mehra has called a meeting, which will be held this week in order to begin a "nationwide democratic process of selecting a new leader of the party."

When it comes to who's eligible to run, there are several criteria that need to met, like being registered Liberals and being allowed to run in a federal election. Their written nominations also must feature 300 signatures from registered Liberals.

As of publication, no one has formally announced that they'll be running for the position.

However, some popular names have been circulating among political circles, including former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, current Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, former Liberal MP Frank Baylis, and former B.C. premier Christy Clark, according to the CBC.

With Parliament prorogued until March 24, it creates a small window in order for the Liberals to find their new leader and appear united.

For more on the process of finding a new replacement, read CBC's comprehensive coverage here.

In the wake of a "critical moment," Ontario Premier Doug Ford has taken to X to share his belief that the federal government needs to focus on doing whatever it takes to avoid possible U.S. tariffs. The post came just after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would be resigning as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

"The federal government needs to do everything humanly possible to avoid these tariffs," Ford wrote.

"Canada needs to demonstrate stability and strength at this critical moment, and the federal government must urgently explain to Canadians how they will avoid tariffs that could have devastating effects on our economy."

Ford has been vocal about the need for a proper approach in dealing with Trump's tariff threat, considering the impact it would have on Ontario.

As political leaders react to his resignation announcement, Canadians are taking to social media to thank Justin Trudeau for his work as Canada's prime minister over the past nine years.

Many are applauding his role during the COVID-19 pandemic, how he weathered Canada's relationship with the U.S. during Donald Trump's first presidency, and also his ability to help advance social issues.

With Trudeau stepping down, Jagmeet Singh is calling for increased support of the NDP, as Canadians get ready for an election which must happen before October 2025, but could happen as early as this spring.

"Justin Trudeau's Liberals have let down Canadians," Singh said in a Monday afternoon press conference.

"They have let you down when it comes to the cost of homes. He's let you down when it comes to the cost of living. And frankly, it's not just Justin Trudeau, it's every Liberal minister, every Liberal MP who looked down their nose at you when people were saying 'We can't make ends meet, we are struggling with the cost of living.'"

"So it doesn't matter who the next Liberal leader is. They have let you down. They do not deserve another chance. They're more interested in themselves than the struggles of Canadians."

Singh re-iterated the serious threat of Donald Trump's second presidency and his promised tariffs on Canadian goods and how the Liberals are more concerned with securing their jobs. The NDP leader is also warning against the threat of Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, who are leading in vote intention polls.

"They want to cut your pensions. They want to cut health care. They want to cut dental care, all to make their rich CEO buddies even richer," Singh said.

He added:

"Canadians, give us a chance. Give us the honour of leading this country."

Singh has faced criticism over the past few months. It started in September, when he ended the NDP's supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals. However, he was reluctant to join the Conservatives in their motion for a non-confidence vote. On Dec. 20, just after the closing of Parliament for the winter holiday break, Singh said he would now support a non-confidence motion.

With Justin Trudeau's announced resignation, U.S.-President elect Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to suggest "many" Canadians would "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," Trump wrote.

Trump said "no tariffs" would be imposed if "Canada merged with the U.S.," a threat he's been making ever since being elected in November.

A poll from Leger last month found that only 13 per cent of Canadians are warm to the idea of the country becoming the "51st state."

More leaders in Canada's political landscape reacted to Trudeau's news, including Chrystia Freeland, Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Justin Trudeau's announcement that he will resign does not change the outlook for the Liberal Party of Canada.

"Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving. But what has really changed?" Polievere asked. "Every Liberal MP in power today and every potential Liberal leadership contender fighting for the top job helped Justin Trudeau break the country over the last nine years."

Polievere cited the carbon tax, government spending, as well the Liberals' immigration, housing and crime policies.

"Their only objection is that [Trudeau] is no longer popular enough to win an election and keep them in power," Poilievre said. "They want to protect their pensions and paycheques by sweeping their hated leader under the rug months before an election, to trick you and then do it all over again."

Trudeau has faced increased pressure to step down since his former finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on Dec. 16 in a letter to the prime minister.

Initially, Trudeau had asked Freeland to step down from the post of finance minister for another position in his cabinet. Instead, Freeland decided to leave altogether, citing that she could not do her job while having a lack of "confidence" from the PM.

Some view Freeland's resignation, and her scathing letter, as the "catalyst" to what led to Trudeau's decision on Monday. When asked to comment on his side of what happened, Trudeau said he isn't "someone who's in the habit of sharing private conversations."

"Chrystia has been by my side for close to 10 years now," Trudeau said. "She has been an incredible political partner through just about everything we have done as a government and as a party over the past decade I had really hoped that she would agree to continue as my deputy prime minister and take on one of the most important files that not just this government but this country is facing, but she chose otherwise."

On Monday, Trudeau was asked how the Liberals can be in a position to protect Canadian businesses from the threat of Donald Trump's tariffs, as the party looks to appoint a new leader in the next two months.

Trudeau's resignation comes just two weeks before U.S.-President-elect Donald Trump gets sworn into office.Since his election win in November 2024, Trump has repeatedly made threats that the U.S. will impose high tariffs on Canadian goods.

"The Cabinet will still be very much focused on doing the job that Canadians elected us to do in 2021, which is fight for their interests, stand up for their well being, and make sure that they are good and that Canadians are protected and strong.

"There will be a leadership process and the rules will unfold over the coming weeks, but I can assure you that the tools and the need to stand up for Canadians, to protect Canadians and their interests and continue to fight for the economy is something that everyone in this government will be singularly focused on."

With all eyes on Justin Trudeau, the prime minister stepped out at his residence, Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, to announce his decision to step down as the Liberal leader.

When Parliament resumes March 24, it's expected that calls for a non-confidence vote will continue.

If that vote takes place and the government fails, then an election will be triggered. This will put the new Liberal leader front and centre in the race against the Conservatives and Pierre Poilievre, who are favoured to win the election according to polls.

Trudeau believes that stepping down gives his party a better chance.

"There is always going to be the challenge of having a leadership race while a Parliament would face confidence votes in the course of delivering supply to the government," Trudeau said.

"So this is something that we're going to navigate through. But I truly feel that removing the contention around my own continued leadership is an opportunity to bring the temperature down, have a government that will focus on the complex issues that are coming forward in the coming months, while the party gets to have a full national process that brings in people from right across the country and makes a determination about the best person to carry the progressive, Liberal standard into the next election."

With Trudeau's granted request to prorogue Parliament, it stops MPs from being able to pass a non-confidence vote, which would trigger a federal election. The Conservatives have tabled many motions seeking a non-confidence vote against Trudeau and the Liberals since fall 2024.

Following Freeland's resignation, Jagmeet Singh and the NDP said they would join the Conservatives in passing a non-confidence vote.

On Monday, Trudeau defended his decision to prorogue Parliament, saying that it's "time for a reset."

"Anyone who's been watching politics closely over the past months will know that Parliament has been entirely seized by obstruction and filibustering and a total lack of productivity.

"It's time for the temperature to come down, for the people to have a fresh start in Parliament, to be able to navigate through these complex times, both domestically and internationally. And the reset that we have is actually two parts. One is the prorogation, but the other part is recognizing that removing me from the equation as the leader who will fight the next election for the Liberal Party should also decrease the level of polarization that we're seeing right now in the House and in Canadian politics, and allow people to actually focus on serving Canadians in this House and with their work the way Canadians deserve."

Trudeau “absolutely” believes that there is another Liberal leader who can defeat Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives in an upcoming federal election.

Before giving his answer, the PM took time to remind Canadians of who he believes Poilievre truly is.

“Poilievre’s vision for this country is not the right one for Canadians,” Trudeau said.

“Stopping the fight against climate change doesn't make sense. Backing off on the values and strength and diversity that Canada has always worked to pull itself together on, is not the right path for the country. Attacking journalists, the CBC institutions, that's not what Canadians need in this moment.

"We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future, and Pierre Poilievre is not offering that, and I look forward to the fight as progressives across this country stand up for the kind of vision for a better country that Canadians have always carried despite the tremendous pressures around the world to think smaller, to veer towards the far right and to be less ambitious for what we can be and do as a country when the world really needs Canada.”

Justin Trudeau has requested that Parliament be prorogued, which Governor General Mary Simon has granted until March 24.

"Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history," Trudeau said at his press conference on Monday.

Justin Trudeau says he will step down as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada after a new leader has been selected.

He made the statement Monday morning at Rideau Cottage.

It remains unclear if Justin Trudeau will stay on as prime minister, even after stepping down as the Liberal leader. He could wait until a new party leader is selected.

According to The Globe, the Liberal Party national executive plans to meet next week, likely after Wednesday's national caucus session, where they will make their leadership decision.

The Liberals can either appoint an interim leader or hold a shortened leadership contest. In the event that they choose the latter, it wold require the Governor-General Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament, which isn't a guarantee.

The prime minister will hold an announcement at 10:45 a.m. ET at Rideau Cottage on Monday morning.

CBC and the Toronto Star are reporting that Justin Trudeau will use this opportunity to formally announce his resignation.

Yahoo News Canada will have the live feed as part of this article, so be sure to check back in.