Trudeau ending 11-year Canadian leadership marred by confrontation with India

Justin Trudeau is ending his 11-year leadership role, including nine years as Canada’s Prime Minister, that was marred by his confrontation with India and deference to Khalistanis.

He announced on Monday that he will step down as Prime Minister and the leader of the Liberal Party but will continue in office until a new leader is elected.

Speaking outside his official residence in Ottawa, he said, “I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process.”

He also mentioned that the House of Commons would be prorogued until March 24, meaning it would be dormant, and opposition parties could not force a vote of no confidence against him.

Encouraged by his one-time ally Jagmeet Singh, leader of the opposition New Democratic Party, Trudeau accused India of orchestrating a deadly campaign against Khalistanis.

Some members of his government made personal allegations against Indian leaders, without presenting proof, linking India to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. However, this did not satisfy Singh, whose support was crucial for Trudeau’s minority government.

Singh joined the calls for Trudeau’s resignation as his poll ratings plummeted, and his party and government plunged into chaos following the ouster of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Trudeau’s government’s campaign against India did little to salvage his reputation. A visit to India by Trudeau exposed his government’s entanglement with Khalistanis. His penchant for showmanship backfired when he and his family dressed in Bollywood-style clothing, and his reception invitation to Jaspal Atwal, a Khalistani convicted of involvement in an assassination plot, overshadowed the trip.

The Liberal Party holds only 153 seats in the 338-member Parliament, far short of the 170 needed for a majority. Trudeau’s government was on life support after the New Democratic Party broke an agreement in September to support him without joining the government.

Any leader succeeding Trudeau will need the support of minority parties. If this proves impossible, an early election before the October deadline could become inevitable, giving an edge to the opposition Conservative Party.

Conservative Party leader Pierre Marcel Poilievre is waiting in the wings, and if he becomes Prime Minister, a reset of Canada’s policies could be expected. Poilievre has blamed Trudeau for ruining relations with India, calling him “incompetent and unprofessional,” which led to major disputes with almost every major power, including India.

Trudeau said he had asked Liberal Party President Sachit Mehra to begin the process of electing a new leader. However, despite his unpopularity and his party’s facing defeat in an election, Trudeau declared that his quest for power was not over.

“I’m 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,” he said.

The son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Justin became PM in 2015, after two years as party leader.

His tenure was rocked after he pushed out Freeland, who held the finance portfolio, last month. In her resignation letter, Freeland, who was popular, said, “I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada.”

US President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened tariffs against Canada, added to Trudeau’s woes. Trump accused Trudeau’s government of allowing illegal migrants to cross over to the US, endangering national security.

According to a Canadian Customs and Border Protection Service report, 358 people on terror watch lists were caught attempting to enter the US from Canada in the fiscal year 2024, indicating what Trump described as Trudeau’s lax policies toward terrorism.

After Trudeau visited him in Mar-a-Lago, Trump ridiculed him as the “Governor of the 51st State” due to his pleas for concessions.

Trudeau came to power with flamboyance and moralizing, capitalizing on his family legacy. However, the charm wore off as Canadians faced high prices and general dissatisfaction over crime and quality of life. Last month, an Angus Reid Institute poll showed his approval rating had dropped to an abysmal 22 percent.