Trudeau to resign as prime minister after Liberal leadership race
PM asked Governor General to prorogue Parliament until March 24
Trudeau will step down as prime minister after leadership racePrime Minister Justin Trudeau says he plans to step down once the Liberal Party has chosen a successor, bringing his time leading the country to a tumultuous end.
Trudeau, who became Liberal leader in 2013 and prime minister in the fall of 2015, announced his long-awaited decision outside his official residence, Rideau Cottage, on Monday morning.
Trudeau also said he asked Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament until March 24, and she granted the request.
The father of three said he told his children that he intended to leave the country's top job over dinner Sunday night.
"This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it's become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election," he told reporters.
Trudeau's decision will set off a competitive leadership race to replace him and find a contender to take on the Liberals' key rival, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, in the next federal election.
Trudeau said he's already asked the Liberal Party president to begin a "robust" and "nationwide" process to find the next leader.
"The Liberal Party of Canada is an important institution in the history of our great country and democracy. A new prime minister and leader of the Liberal party will carry its values and ideals into the next election," he said.
"I'm excited to see the process unfold in the months ahead."
Trudeau has been under mounting pressure to resign amid sinking public opinion polling, including from his own caucus.
At least two dozen individual MPs and several regional caucuses — including Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario — have called for him to step down since before the holiday break.
Trudeau addresses Freeland's departure
His political future was put into a tailspin when Chrystia Freeland, long seen as his top lieutenant, resigned as finance minister and deputy prime minister last month, the day she was scheduled to present the fall economic statement.
In a letter to Trudeau that was subsequently posted to social media, Freeland said she had no choice but to resign after Trudeau approached her about moving to another cabinet role. It was later revealed she had been offered a position in charge of Canada-U.S. relations.
Freeland took a jab at Trudeau's handling of the economy, denouncing in the letter what she called the government's "costly political gimmicks." She went on to write that she and Trudeau had been "at odds" in recent weeks about how to handle the incoming U.S. administration.
Former
deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet last
month, putting Trudeau's political future in a tailspin. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Trudeau addressed Freeland's bombshell departure for the first time publicly Monday, albeit briefly.
He told reporters he had hoped she would have stayed on as deputy prime minister and take on "one of the most important files" the country is facing.
"But she chose otherwise," he said. "In regards to what actually happened, I am not someone who's in the habit of sharing private conversations."
Trudeau hoped Freeland would have continued as deputy PMIn a social media post Monday, Freeland thanked Trudeau for his years of service.
"I wish him and his family the very best," she wrote.
Trudeau's planned resignation adds a new level of chaos to Canada's response to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's tariff threat. Trump will officially take office in exactly two weeks.
The incoming administration has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports, which Trump claimed was in response to concerns about border security, migrants and illegal drugs, especially fentanyl. Tariffs at that level could devastate Canada's economy.
Canada then announced more than $1 billion to bolster border security, but it's not yet clear whether that will sway Trump to drop the tariffs.
Conservatives threaten non-confidence motion
The Conservatives, which have been riding high in the polls for more than a year, have promised to move a motion of non-confidence in the Liberal government as soon as possible in the new year.
In a statement, Poilievre said Trudeau's decision "changes nothing" and suggested Liberal MPs who revolted are acting out of self interest.
- What questions do you have now that Trudeau plans to step down as prime minister and Liberal leader? Send an email to ask@cbc.ca.
"Their only objection is that he is no longer popular enough to win an election and keep them in power. 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," he wrote, while renewing calls for an immediate election.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who ended his party's agreement to keep the Liberal minority government afloat back in September, suggested Canadians shouldn't support any Liberal leader.
"The problem is not just Justin Trudeau. It's every minister that's been calling the shots," he said in a statement on Monday.
"It's every Liberal MP that looked down their nose at Canadians who are worried about high costs or crumbling health care. The Liberals do not deserve another chance, no matter who is the leader."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ford calls for political 'stability' in statement on Trudeau's decision to step down
Ontario premier's statement did not mention prime minister by name
Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighed in on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to resign as federal Liberal leader on Monday, issuing a statement that did not mention Trudeau by name nor reference his intention to step down.
Instead, Ford focused on the threat by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods heading south of the border and the need for political stability in Ottawa.
"In two weeks, the president-elect will be sworn in as America's next president and will have every opportunity to make his threats real," Ford said.
"Between now and then, the federal government needs to do everything humanly possible to avoid these tariffs, including by doing more to secure our border and offering a credible plan to invest more in Canada's military to meet and exceed our NATO spending commitments."
Ford echoed those comments at a news conference Monday afternoon, saying that he is "100 per cent focused on the tariffs," adding that Canada would need to "retaliate" and "retaliate hard" if they were to be introduced.
"It would hurt American jobs and it would hurt Canadian jobs," Ford said.
The premier also said that in the coming weeks, Trudeau's focus should be on the prospect of tariffs and not on the federal Liberal party itself.
Prime minister to step down
At a news conference Monday morning, Trudeau said he would resign his office once a successor has been chosen by the party. Trudeau also said he asked Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament until March 24, and she granted the request.
"This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it's become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election," he told reporters.
Trudeau had been under mounting pressure to step down amid sinking public opinion polls and calls for him to resign from factions within his own Liberal caucus.
It's not clear if or when voters may head to the polls in a federal election ahead of the fixed date in October. But both the Conservatives and NDP have said they will vote to bring down the government when the opportunity arises.
In his statement, Ford said the "interests of Canadian workers and families need to come before political or party ambitions.
"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," he said.
Ontario election plans unclear
Ford and Trudeau have worked closely on several major files in recent years, such as securing multi-billion-dollar deals for battery plants and electric vehicle manufacturing in Ontario, even as the prime minister's relationship with some other conservative premiers grew increasingly strained.
Trudeau's announcement and the subsequent uncertainty around a possible early federal election could have consequences for the provincial political landscape in Ontario.
Throughout the latter half of 2024, Ford sent repeated signals that he may send Ontario voters to the polls this spring, more than a year ahead of the next fixed election date in June 2026. It's not clear how turmoil in Ottawa might impact Ford's thinking around sending Ontarians to the polls early in an attempt to secure a third mandate.
Ford did not directly respond to repeated questions about the prospect of a provincial election at Monday's news conference, again repeating that the prospect of tariffs will be the focus of premiers across the country.
"We have a strong, strong group of premiers, we're going to continue moving this country forward," he said.
David Amos
Trust that legions of people have read the emails to those dudes
Doug Ford on Trudeau’s resignation, Trump’s tariff threat – January 6, 2024
From: Premier of Ontario | Premier ministre de l’Ontario <Premier@ontario.ca>
Date: Fri, Mar 31, 2023 at 3:07 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: YO Donald Trump Jr. and Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. DEJA VU or What?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read, reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a response may take several business days.
Thanks again for your email.
______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
From: Justice Minister <JUSTMIN@novascotia.ca>
Date: Fri, Mar 31, 2023 at 3:05 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: YO Donald Trump Jr. and Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. DEJA VU or What?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for your email to the Minister of Justice. Please be assured that it has been received by the Department. Your email will be reviewed and addressed accordingly. Thank you.
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 11, 2023 at 8:06 PM
Subject: Fwd: YO Donald Trump Jr. and Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. DEJA VU or What?
To: <tboutrous@gibsondunn.com>, <Judiciary_Whistleblower@mail.house.gov>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, <luc.cohen@thomsonreuters.com>, <Kanishka.Singh@thomsonreuters.com>
https://www.reuters.com/legal/
Manhattan's top prosecutor sues to stop Republican 'intimidation' in Trump case
By Luc Cohen and Kanishka Singh
Theodore J. Boutrous Jr.
Partner
CONTACT INFO
tboutrous@gibsondunn.com
TEL:+1 213.229.7804
FAX:+1 213.229.6804
Los Angeles
333 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071-3197 USA
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.c
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:04:29 -0300
Subject: YO Donald Trump Jr. and Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. DEJA VU or What?
To: FOIL@dany.nyc.gov, contact@win.donaldjtrump.com,
donjr@email.donjr.com, mdcohen212@gmail.com, "Diane.Lebouthillier"
<Diane.Lebouthillier@cra-arc.g
<mark.vespucci@ci.irs.gov>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, premier
<premier@gnb.ca>, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>,
"Matt.DeCourcey" <Matt.DeCourcey@parl.gc.ca>, oldmaison
<oldmaison@yahoo.com>, andre <andre@jafaust.com>, washington field
<washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>, "David.Coon" <David.Coon@gnb.ca>,
"Jacques.Poitras" <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, "sylvie.gadoury"
<sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.c
<pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "Katie.Telford"
<Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>, "jagmeet.singh"
<jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>, "Marco.Mendicino"
<Marco.Mendicino@parl.gc.ca>, "martin.gaudet"
<martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca>
<Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, PREMIER <PREMIER@gov.ns.ca>, justmin
<justmin@gov.ns.ca>, paulpalango <paulpalango@protonmail.com>, premier
<premier@gov.pe.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, premier
<premier@gov.bc.ca>, premier <premier@gov.nl.ca>, premier
<premier@gov.yk.ca>, premier <premier@gov.nt.ca>, Office of the
Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>, premier <premier@leg.gov.mb.ca>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, jfetzer
<jfetzer@d.umn.edu>, John Furey <JohnFurey@fureylegal.com>,
"Mike.Comeau" <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, Pat.Morris@opp.ca,
"Michael.Duheme" <Michael.Duheme@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
http://davidraymondamos3.blogs
Friday, 31 March 2023
BREAKING: PRESIDENT TRUMP INDICTED
Automatic reply: RE FATCA ATTN Pierre-Luc.Dusseault I just called and
left a message for you
Add star Michael Cohen<mcohen@trumporg.com> Tue, Feb 14, 2017 at 10:15 AM
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Effective January 20, 2017, I have accepted the role as personal
counsel to President Donald J. Trump. All future emails should be
directed to mdcohen212@gmail.com and all future calls should be
directed to 646-853-0114.
This communication is from The Trump Organization or an affiliate
thereof and is not sent on behalf of any other individual or entity.
This email may contain information that is confidential and/or
proprietary. Such information may not be read, disclosed, used,
copied, distributed or disseminated except (1) for use by the intended
recipient or (2) as expressly authorized by the sender. If you have
received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and
promptly notify the sender. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed
to be received, secure or error-free as emails could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late, incomplete, contain viruses
or otherwise. The Trump Organization and its affiliates do not
guarantee that all emails will be read and do not accept liability for
any errors or omissions in emails. Any views or opinions presented in
any email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of The Trump Organization or any of its
affiliates.Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an
electronic signature under applicable law.
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original
Add star Hancox, Rick (FCNB)<rick.hancox@fcnb.ca> Tue, Feb 14, 2017
at 10:15 AM
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
G'Day/Bonjour,
Thanks for your e-mail. I am out of the office until 24 February. If
you need more immediate assistance, please contact France Bouchard at
506 658-2696.
Je serai absent du bureau jusqu'au 24 fevrier Durant mon absence,
veuillez contacter France Bouchard au 506 658-2696 pour assistance
immédiate.
Thanks/Merci Rick
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Morris, Pat (OPP)" <Pat.Morris@opp.ca>
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2022 14:01:57 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Rohan Kumar Pall and his pals
should not be surprised by Robert Bernier and his fellow Ottawa cops
trying to play dumb todasyu N'esy Pas Frank Au?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.c
CAUTION -- EXTERNAL E-MAIL - Do not click links or open attachments in
unexpected emails.
?Hello, from October 24h to October 26th, I will be working out of the
office and unable to receive or return messages most of the time.
Acting Supt. Kirsten Clarke will be acting for me in POIB. I will
return on October 27th.
Thank you
Pat Morris
Superintendent
Bureau Commander
Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2017 13:02:25 -0400
Subject: DEJA VU or what? Fwd: RE FATCA ATTN Pierre-Luc.Dusseault I
just called and left a message for you
To: Pierre-Luc.Dusseault@parl.gc.c
"Diane.Lebouthillier" <Diane.Lebouthillier@cra-arc.g
"mark.vespucci" <mark.vespucci@ci.irs.gov>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>,
curtis <curtis@marinerpartners.com>, "rick.hancox"
<rick.hancox@nbsc-cvmnb.ca>, premier <premier@gnb.ca>, "blaine.higgs"
<blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "Matt.DeCourcey" <Matt.DeCourcey@parl.gc.ca>,
oldmaison <oldmaison@yahoo.com>, andre <andre@jafaust.com>,
"David.Coon" <David.Coon@gnb.ca>, "Jacques.Poitras"
<Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, "sylvie.gadoury"
<sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.c
"peacock.kurt" <peacock.kurt@telegraphjournal
<plee@stu.ca>, jason.markusoff@macleans.roger
<Ezra@therebel.media>, jesse <jesse@jessebrown.ca>, "jessica.hume"
<jessica.hume@ontario.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, radical
<radical@radicalpress.com>, Brian Ruhe <brian@brianruhe.ca>,
"Paul.Lynch" <Paul.Lynch@edmontonpolice.ca>
<sunrayzulu@shaw.ca>, cps <cps@calgarypolice.ca>, patrick_doran1
<patrick_doran1@hotmail.com>, themayor <themayor@calgary.ca>, pol7163
<pol7163@calgarypolice.ca>
Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>
elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca, "ht.lacroix" <ht.lacroix@cbc.ca>,
"hon.melanie.joly" <hon.melanie.joly@canada.ca>, "hon.ralph.goodale"
<hon.ralph.goodale@canada.ca>, djtjr <djtjr@trumporg.com>
http://www.canadalandshow.com/
Is Rebel Media’s embrace of free speech leading to rampant
anti-semitism and virulent racism?
Also, Atlantic Canadian journalists are coming under fire, and the
refugee influx will likely ramp up in the next few months.
Macleans Alberta correspondent Jason Markusoff joins us.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politic
Canadians should be told if their banking info shared with IRS, says MP
Canada Revenue Agency says banks should tell their clients
By Elizabeth Thompson, CBC News Posted: Mar 17, 2017 5:00 AM ET
The Canada Revenue Agency should notify Canadian residents when their
bank account information is being shared with the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service, says the NDP's revenue critic.
Pierre-Luc Dusseault says informing Canadian residents their
information is being sent to the IRS could prevent others from landing
in the same predicament as Jeffrey Pomerantz, a Vancouver area man
facing a $1.1-million lawsuit for failing to file a form reporting his
bank accounts outside the U.S.
Dusseault said there could be more lawsuits because of the "large
number" of files regarding Canadian bank accounts being transferred
under an intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and Canada.
The deal was negotiated in the wake of the U.S. adopting the Foreign
Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
"I would emphasize again the need for the CRA to notify Canadian
taxpayers when they transfer their files to the IRS, a foreign
government department," said Dusseault. "This notification may avoid
that kind of situation."
Department hits Vancouver-area man with $1.1M lawsuit over bank form
Transfer of banking records of Canadian residents to U.S. taxman doubles
Canada's Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien has already recommended
that Canadian residents be notified when their bank account
information is transferred, Dusseault pointed out.
In September 2016, the CRA shared information about 315,160 bank
accounts — double the number it shared a year earlier in the first
year of the agreement.
However, Revenue Minister Diane LeBouthillier's office said it is the
responsibility of individual banks to let clients know if information
about their bank accounts might be transferred.
Youngest MP 20110519
Pierre-Luc Dusseault, NDP MP for Sherbrooke, says the transfer of
information about banking records could lead to more Canadian
residents being pursued by U.S. authorities. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian
Press)
"The legislation implementing the Canada-U.S. Intergovernmental
Agreement (IGA) requires that Canadian financial institutions
communicate with account holders of pre-existing accounts if there is
information suggesting that they are a U.S. citizen or resident (e.g.,
their client file contains a U.S. contact address or phone number,)"
said spokesperson Chloé Luciani-Girouard.
"These clients would therefore be on notice that their information may
be exchanged with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service."
CRA will respond to requests
While the government has no plans to inform people whose bank account
information has been shared, those who want to know can contact their
financial institution or the CRA, Luciani-Girouard said.
"The CRA will respond to any request to confirm whether information
relating to a particular individual or entity has been reported and
provided to the U.S. under FATCA. To date, fewer than 10 such requests
have been received by the CRA," she added.
Tax law has more Americans living abroad renouncing citizenship, lawyer says
The information-sharing agreement was in the spotlight Thursday
following a CBC report that Pomerantz, a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen,
is being sued by the U.S. Justice Department for $860,300 US in civil
penalties, late payment penalties and interest.
While Pomerantz filed income tax returns to both Canada and the U.S.,
the Justice Department said he failed to file a Foreign Bank and
Financial Accounts report to the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network (FinCEN) for three tax years.
During those years, Pomerantz had accounts with the Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce and in Switzerland with Sal Oppenheim JR & Cie, in
addition to a corporation in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the U.S.
Justice Department said in its lawsuit.
In a separate case, Pomerantz is challenging an audit by the IRS.
Court challenge
Lynne Swanson, part of a group challenging the bank account
information sharing agreement in Federal Court, said the Pomerantz
case is an example of how the bank account information agreement can
make some Canadian residents vulnerable.
IRS-Political Groups
The CRA transferred 315,160 Canadian bank records to the IRS in
September 2016. (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)
"I don't think they should be transferring any information. Period.
Full stop," she said.
"If they are transferring it, of course, they should be telling people
that they have transferred it and what they have transferred. But I
don't think they should be transferring anything."
Elizabeth Thompson can be reached at elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca
299 Comments
David Raymond Amos
Gee I wonder if Elizabeth Thompson or Diane LeBouthillier and
Pierre-Luc Dusseault bothered to read the email i sent them and many
others on St Valentine's Day?
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:15:04 -0400
Subject: RE FATCA ATTN Pierre-Luc.Dusseault I just called and left a
message for you
To: Pierre-Luc.Dusseault@parl.gc.c
"Diane.Lebouthillier" <Diane.Lebouthillier@cra-arc.g
"mark.vespucci" <mark.vespucci@ci.irs.gov>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>,
curtis <curtis@marinerpartners.com>, "rick.hancox"
<rick.hancox@nbsc-cvmnb.ca>
Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>
<djtjr@trumporg.com>, mcohen <mcohen@trumporg.com>,
elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca, "ht.lacroix" <ht.lacroix@cbc.ca>,
"hon.melanie.joly" <hon.melanie.joly@canada.ca>
Trust that Trump, CBC and everybody else knows that I speak and act
Pro Se particularly when dealing with the Evil Tax Man
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAm
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politic
Transfer of Canadian banking records to U.S. tax agency doubled last year
Documents for thousands of Canadian residents transferred under
controversial FATCA legislation
By Elizabeth Thompson, CBC News Posted: Jan 29, 2017 5:00 AM ET
Banking records of more than 315,000 Canadian residents were turned
over to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service last year under a
controversial information sharing deal, CBC News has learned.
That is double the number transferred in the deal's first year.
The Canada Revenue Agency transmitted 315,160 banking records to the
IRS on Sept. 28, 2016 — a 104 per cent increase over the 154,667
records the agency sent in September 2015.
Lisa Damien, spokeswoman for the CRA, attributed the increase to the
fact it was the second year for the Canada-U.S. information sharing
deal that was sparked by the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
(FATCA).
"The exchange in September 2015 was based on accounts identified by
financial institutions at the time," she said. "The number of reported
accounts was expected to increase in 2016, because the financial
institutions have had more time to complete their due diligence and
identify other reportable accounts."
Trudeau Nuclear Summit 20160331
Prior to coming to power, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opposed the
agreement to share banking records of Canadian residents with the IRS.
He has since changed his position. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
The transmission of banking records of Canadian residents is the
result of an agreement worked out in 2014 between Canada and the U.S.
after the American government adopted FATCA. The U.S. tax compliance
act requires financial institutions around the world to reveal
information about bank accounts in a bid to crack down on tax evasion
by U.S. taxpayers with foreign accounts.
Dual citizens, long-term visitors affected
The deal requires financial institutions to share the banking records
of those considered to be "U.S. persons" for tax purposes — regardless
of whether they are U.S. citizens.
Among the people who can be considered by the IRS as "U.S. persons"
are Canadians born in the U.S., dual citizens or even those who spend
more than a certain number of days in the United States each year.
Former prime minister Stephen Harper's government argued that given
the penalties the U.S. was threatening to impose, it had no choice but
to negotiate the information sharing deal. The former government said
it was able to exempt some types of accounts from the information
transfer.
CRA
The Canada Revenue Agency transfers banking records of people believed
to be 'U.S. persons' to the IRS. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
The Canada Revenue Agency triggered controversy after it transferred
the first batch of Canadian banking records to the IRS in September
2015 in the midst of the election campaign, without waiting for an
assessment by Canada's privacy commissioner or the outcome of a legal
challenge to the agreement's constitutionality.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Treasury Board President Scott Brison
and Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale have dropped calls to scrap
the deal, which they had made before the Liberals came to power.
Watchdog wants proactive notification
Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien has raised concerns about the
information sharing, questioning whether financial institutions are
reporting more accounts than necessary. Under the agreement, financial
institutions only have to report accounts belonging to those believed
to be U.S. persons if they contain more than $50,000.
Therrien has also suggested the CRA proactively notify individuals
that their financial records had been shared with the IRS. However,
the CRA has been reluctant to agree to Therrien's suggestion.
Racial Profiling 20160107
Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien has questioned whether the CRA is
transmitting more banking records to the IRS than is necessary.
(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
NDP revenue critic Pierre-Luc Dusseault said the increase in the
number of files transferred was "surprising," and he questioned
whether financial institutions are only sharing records of accounts
worth more than $50,000.
"I don't see how there would be 150,000 more accounts reportable to
the IRS in one year. It is something I will look into."
Dusseault said the CRA should notify every Canadian resident whose
banking records are shared with the IRS.
Lynne Swanson, of the Alliance for the Defence of Canadian
Sovereignty, which is challenging the information sharing agreement in
Federal Court, said she has no idea why the number of banking records
shared with the IRS doubled.
Youngest MP 20110519
NDP revenue critic Pierre-Luc Dusseault says the CRA should notify
every Canadian resident whose banking records are shared with the IRS.
(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
"It still seems low in comparison to the number of Canadians that are
affected by this," she said. "It is estimated that a million Canadians
are affected by this."
Hopes for repeal
Swanson hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump, or Congress — which is
now controlled by the Republican Party — will scrap FATCA. The
Republican platform pledged to do away with the information collecting
legislation.
"FATCA not only allows 'unreasonable search and seizures' but also
threatens the ability of overseas Americans to lead normal lives," the
platform reads. "We call for its repeal and for a change to
residency-based taxation for U.S. citizens overseas."
Swanson's group is also hoping the Federal Court of Canada will
intervene, although a date has not yet been set for a hearing.
"A foreign government is essentially telling the Canadian government
how Canadian citizens and Canadian residents should be treated. It is
a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms."
Elizabeth Thompson can be reached at elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca
Trump responds to Trudeau resignation by suggesting Canada merge with U.S.
Donald Trump is set to take office, slap tariffs on Canada while Trudeau remains 'lame duck' PM
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation as Liberal leader comes just two weeks before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president while threatening to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all imports from Canada on Day 1.
Trudeau said he will stay on as prime minister until his successor is chosen, creating the prospect that Canada will have a lame duck head of government just as its biggest trading partner hits its exports with steep tariffs.
Trudeau's resignation leaves Canada and its economy vulnerable to whatever Trump plans to impose, says Xavier Delgado, senior program associate with the Wilson Center's Canada Institute in Washington, D.C.
"It's a remarkable time for the prime minister to be announcing that he's stepping down," said Delgado in an interview Monday with CBC News. "Within the context of Canada-U.S. relations, it really does not make a lot of sense."
Trump reacted to Trudeau's resignation with a post on his Truth Social platform.
"Many people in Canada 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 said in the post.
Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau dined with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump in
December. Trump described the meeting as 'very productive' on his
social media platform, Truth Social. (@JustinTrudeau/X)
"If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!" Trump continued.
Trudeau cites need to 'stand up for Canadians'
Trudeau's decision to step down is bringing questions about how the government will handle any negotiations with the Trump administration.
"In announcing that he's resigning, Trudeau effectively becomes a lame duck prime minister," Delgado said. "He does not really have a mandate, given the fact that folks down here in Washington know that he's not going to be around much longer."
During his news conference outside Rideau Cottage, Trudeau was asked how the government can protect Canada from the tariff threat if key cabinet ministers are absorbed in a leadership race.
"The government and the cabinet will still be very much focused on doing the job Canadians elected us to do in 2021, which is fight for their interests, stand up for their well-being and make sure that Canadians ... are protected and strong," Trudeau said.
"I can assure you that the tools and the need to stand up for Canadians, to protect Canadians in their interests and continue to fight for the economy, is something everyone in this government will be singularly focused on."
Trudeau did not directly answer a question about whether the Liberal leadership contestants would be required to quit their post during the race.
Several top cabinet ministers working on the Canada-U.S. file — including Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc — are considered leadership contenders.
The pair travelled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in late December to meet with two of the president-elect's cabinet picks and brief them on Ottawa's plan for improving border security, which Trump has asked for if Canada hopes to avoid crushing tariffs.
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Justin Trudeau resigns: Canada prime minister's full press conference on election, Pierre Poilievre
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How to follow CBC's coverage of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's press conference
Trudeau is expected to speak at 10:45 a.m. ET outside his home at Rideau Cottage
Trudeau to announce he's resigning as Liberal leader, sources sayPrime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce this morning that he's stepping down as Liberal leader, sources tell CBC News. He's expected to address Canadians from outside his home at Rideau Cottage.
CBC News will bring you the press conference from Ottawa, which begins at 10:45 a.m. ET, 11:45 a.m. AT and 12:15 p.m. NT. Here's how you can follow:
TV
Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton and David Cochrane, host of Power & Politics, will have special coverage from Ottawa. That special began at 10 a.m. ET.
Online
CBC News live coverage of the press conference will stream everywhere you get CBC News.
- CBC Gem.
- The CBC News app.
- CBCNews.ca.
- CBC News on YouTube and TikTok.
- You can also stream the special on our CBC News streaming channels on a smart TV.
Radio
Join The Current's Matt Galloway and The House host Catherine Cullen as they host a radio special, beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET, 11:30 a.m. AT and noon NT on CBC Radio, CBC Listen and on the CBC News app.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a Laurier Club Holiday Party event in Gatineau, Que., on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)
With Trudeau on his way out, Parliament is prorogued. Here's what that means
Here's how prorogation has been used in the past
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said he will be stepping down from the country's top office and from his role as Liberal Party leader as soon as a replacement is chosen.
In the same breath, he also confirmed Parliament will be prorogued, or suspended, until March 24.
"The fact is, despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history," Trudeau said, referring to the government elected in 2021.
"That's why, this morning, I advised the Governor General that we need a new session of Parliament."
Trudeau said Gov. Gen. Mary Simon granted the request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.
Here's what prorogation means for the government and for the public.
What is prorogation?
Prorogation effectively allows the prime minister to hit pause on Parliament. The government remains in power, but all parliamentary activity — from existing bills and committee work to studies and investigations — comes to a halt.
A speech from the throne is then scheduled to kick off the next parliamentary session and lay out the government's intentions going forward.
Why prorogue Parliament?
Prorogation is different than dissolution, which terminates Parliament and triggers a general election.
In this case, it means the Liberals will avoid a confidence vote and get more time to run a leadership race. Trudeau said confidence votes that come after March 24 will "allow Parliament to weigh in on confidence in a way that is entirely in keeping with all the principles of democracy."
"Anyone who's been watching politics closely over the past months will know that Parliament has been entirely seized by obstruction, by filibustering and a total lack of productivity," Trudeau said Monday when asked why he chose prorogation instead of immediately setting off the next election.
"It's time for a reset. It's time for the temperature to come down."
The prime minister's future has been in question for months as the party fought against its lowest level of support in years. As of Monday, an average of publicly available polls had Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party with a 24-point lead over Trudeau's Liberals.
Calls for Trudeau's resignation intensified after Chrystia Freeland, one of his most loyal allies, suddenly resigned as minister of finance and deputy prime minister on Dec. 16.
Nelson Wiseman, a former political science professor at the University of Toronto, said prorogation won't have a noticeable impact on most Canadians because in areas that affect most people's daily lives — like health care, education and social welfare — Parliament transfers money to the provinces and that money has already been allocated within the budget.
Why has prorogation been controversial?
The practice has also been used as a tactic during political crises.
Trudeau previously suspended Parliament in September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and controversy over the WE Charity student volunteer grant program.
The Conservatives under former prime minister Stephen Harper used prorogation to avoid a confidence vote in 2008, thwarting all three opposition parties in their attempt to defeat his government.
Harper's government used the move again for two months in 2010, that time to kill a committee inquiry into the treatment of Afghan detainees.
Jean Chrétien's Liberal government was accused of using prorogation to avoid tabling a report on the sponsorship scandal in 2002-03.
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How will replacing Trudeau work? Breaking down a Liberal leadership contest
Parliament is prorogued until March 24, buying the Liberals time to find a new leader
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday morning that he plans to step down once his party picks a successor.
Now, the Liberal leadership race is on as opposition parties vow to take down the government through a non-confidence vote at the earliest opportunity.
Trudeau told reporters outside his Rideau Cottage residence in Ottawa on Monday that he'll remain Liberal leader and prime minister until his replacement is chosen by a "competitive" national leadership contest.
He also said Parliament has been prorogued until March 24, meaning MPs won't meet again in the House of Commons for more than two months.
So how do Liberal leadership contests work, and is there a way to expedite electing a new party leader? Let's break down the process to replace Trudeau.
The first steps
According to the Liberal Party's constitution, the party's president — currently Sachit Mehra — must call a meeting of the national board of directors to be held within 27 days of a leader announcing their intention to resign.
On Monday morning, Mehra confirmed in a statement that he will call a meeting "to be held this week to begin the nationwide democratic process of selecting a new leader of the party."
The board is empowered to appoint an interim leader in consultation with the Liberal caucus, but the outgoing leader can also choose to remain in the job until a new leader is chosen by a leadership vote, which is Trudeau's plan.
There's precedent here. Former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien announced he would not run for re-election in August 2002, but stayed on as prime minister for another 18 months until he officially resigned in December 2003 and was immediately replaced by Paul Martin.
The Liberal Party's constitution doesn't specify how long a leadership contest should be but the national board has flexibility depending on "political circumstances," and can "review and alter any arrangements already made for the leadership vote."
Who's eligible to run for leadership?
Liberal leadership candidates must meet several criteria. The most fundamental requirements are that candidates must be registered Liberals and can run for office in a general federal election.
According to the party constitution, candidates must also deliver a written nomination to the Liberal Party's president at least 90 days before the leadership vote. In their written nomination, candidates must have 300 signatures from registered Liberals, including at least 100 registered Liberals from each of three provinces or territories.
To register with the Liberals, a person must be at least 14 years old, support the purposes of the Liberal Party and live in Canada or be qualified to vote from abroad. They can't be a member of any other federal political party.
In order to vote in a leadership race, someone needs to be a registered Liberal for 41 days "immediately preceding the day of the leadership vote," according to the Liberal Party's constitution.
Nobody has officially thrown their hat into the ring to replace Trudeau, but several names in the Liberal caucus and beyond have been circulating for months.
They include former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, current Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, former B.C. premier Christy Clark and former Liberal MP Frank Baylis.
Can a leadership contest be sped up?
Some Liberals have been exploring how the party can hold an expedited race, citing a possible early election and the uncertainty surrounding U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's administration — which may level a punishing tariff on Canadian goods.
Prorogation buys the Liberal Party time and staves off opposition parties toppling the government before March 24, but it's a tight timeline for a national contest. The party has 11 weeks before prorogation ends and MPs return to the House of Commons.
Sophie Chatel, a Liberal MP from Quebec, said in an email obtained by CBC News in late December there's precedent for a condensed leadership race. She highlighted how the Liberals held a party convention 98 days after John Turner resigned in 1990.
In her email, Chatel said the party's national board could require leadership declarations within days rather than weeks.
"Candidates would engage members through debates, virtual events and focused messaging, avoiding the need for a prolonged campaign tour," Chatel wrote in her email to other Liberal MPs.
Liberal leaders have previously been chosen by in-person votes at a convention.
In her email, Chatel proposed voting be done electronically, which she said enables Liberal members, no matter where they live, to "vote efficiently while preserving the democratic integrity of the process."
"By leveraging these tools, the party could complete the entire leadership process within 91 days, ensuring a new leader is in place ahead of the next election," Chatel wrote.
How does voting work?
The Liberal Party's constitution states that each electoral district is allocated 100 points, which in total creates a "national count" that determines who wins the contest.
Voters can rank their preferred candidates. Candidates receive district points based on a ratio of how many voters choose them as their first pick against the total number of valid ballots cast in the district.
The district points across the country are then totalled up for each candidate. The first contender to receive more than 50 per cent of the points on any national count is selected as the Liberal Party leader.
If nobody gets more than 50 per cent on the first count, the candidate with the fewest number of points is eliminated and their ballots are distributed among the remaining contenders, according to whom voters chose as their second preference.
This elimination process continues until a candidate meets the target of 50 per cent plus one.
In 2013, Trudeau won his leadership contest in a landslide and got 80 per cent support on the first ballot. His main opponents were Liberal MP Joyce Murray and former Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay.
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Liberals will choose a new leader. Who are the possible candidates to replace Trudeau?
Insiders and outsiders have signalled interest in running for Liberal leadership
Top Liberals will soon be lining up for the party's — and country's — top job after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he will be resigning.
After weeks of intensified calls from his own Liberal MPs, Trudeau announced Monday he would be stepping down as soon as the party picks a new leader.
Potential candidates will soon be making public pitches as to why they're best positioned to succeed Trudeau. Some have already begun sending subtle — and not so subtle — signals about their interest in the top job.
Here are some of the names frequently discussed as possible successors.
Here are some potential candidates who could replace Trudeau | Power & PoliticsChrystia Freeland
Chrystia
Freeland, whose resignation from cabinet last month escalated the push
for Trudeau to step down, is being floated as a potential successor to
lead the Liberals. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)Former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland triggered a wave of calls for Trudeau's resignation when she resigned from cabinet on Dec. 16.
Later that day, she received a standing ovation at an emergency caucus meeting.
In an email to supporters and former staffers the next day, she also reignited rumours about her ambitions to succeed him: "this will not be the end of the road!"
Since then, a small number of the Liberal MPs opposing Trudeau have either expressed hopes that Freeland will run for the leadership or flat-out declared their support for her. Liberals also lined up to take pictures with her at the party's holiday party.
B.C. MP Ken Hardie told CBC's Power & Politics in December that "to parachute somebody in from the outside is a recipe for the kind of disasters that we've seen in the last three byelections."
"Ms. Freeland, particularly because of the skill with which she dealt with Donald Trump in Trump 1.0, is clearly the one that I would choose to take the fight back to him again. She's smart. She knows the drill with him."
Liberal MPs urge cabinet ministers to join push for Trudeau’s resignationOntario MP Chandra Arya also told the program that, "by design or by circumstance, her time of resignation has put her into the spotlight. And she appears to be the person around whom the caucus members can rally behind."
After Trudeau's announcement on Monday, Freeland offered a brief thank you message to the prime minister.
"I thank Justin Trudeau for his years of service to Canada and Canadians. I wish him and his family the very best," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Mark Carney
Members of the Liberal Party tried to court then-Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to run for the leadership in 2012.
Instead, Carney compounded his financial credentials as governor of the Bank of England the next year.
Carney is now orbiting the party again. He addressed a Liberal convention in 2021, and accepted a position as special adviser to the party in September, becoming chair of a task force on economic growth.
Even then, he sidestepped questions about his leadership ambitions: "I'm interested in doing something, not being something."
Mark Carney joins Liberals as economic adviserMultiple high-level Liberal sources told CBC News in December that Trudeau and his senior advisers were making ongoing efforts to recruit Carney to cabinet.
A Liberal source also told Radio-Canada that on the Friday before Freeland's resignation from cabinet, Trudeau told her via Zoom that Carney would replace her as finance minister.
After Freeland's resignation, Dominic LeBlanc took the file. He said Trudeau told him he would keep the position "until the next election."
Carney did not receive a cabinet role in Trudeau's Dec. 20 shuffle.
Carney released a statement Monday saying he would "closely" consider a decision to run for the leadership.
"I'm encouraged and honoured by the support that I've already been hearing from Liberal MPs and Liberals across the country who want us to move forward with positive change and a winning economic plan," he said in a statement.
"That's what it will take to defeat [Conservative Leader] Pierre Poilievre, to get Canada back on track and to build the strongest economy that works for all Canadians. I'll be considering this decision closely with my family over the coming few days."
Dominic LeBlanc
Dominic LeBlanc took over as finance minister after Freeland's resignation, and has held several high-profile cabinet positions. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)LeBlanc has run for the Liberal leadership before. He dropped out of the race in 2008, endorsing eventual victor Michael Ignatieff.
LeBlanc also chose not to run against Trudeau in 2013.
Over a decade later, he's now minister of both finance and intergovernmental affairs, and is coming off of a high-profile term in public safety where he grappled with Trump's border demands.
He even accompanied Trudeau to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
LeBlanc accompanied Trudeau for dinner with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump at his Florida resort on Nov. 29. (@DaveMcCormickPA/X)
John Manley, former finance minister and deputy prime minister under Jean Chrétien, told BNN Bloomberg in December that he "wouldn't be surprised" if Liberal party executives asked Leblanc to take the party into the next election.
A source close to LeBlanc who has knowledge of his leadership plans told CBC News that it is "very likely" the minister will put himself forward as a potential candidate. LeBlanc has the support of "dozens" of Liberal MPs, according to the source.
Mélanie Joly
Mélanie Joly was featured in a New York Times piece last year that framed her as a potential successor to Trudeau. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)The headline of the New York Times December profile of Mélanie Joly became a story in itself: "Tapped by Trudeau to Steer Foreign Affairs, She's Now His Possible Successor."
The piece declared her a "top contender to replace Justin Trudeau."
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attacked Trudeau over the profile, writing on X that he's "so weak. His foreign affairs minister launches her leadership bid to replace him in the New York Times."
Joly gave the interview in July, just weeks after the party lost the Toronto-St. Paul's byelection — long considered a Liberal stronghold. That loss triggered early questions about Trudeau's leadership.
When confronted about the profile on Power & Politics, Joly said that "of course the prime minister can count on my support," and denied that it was presented to her as an interview about her leadership ambitions.
"We were approached by the New York Times, and so we did the interview. Period."
Anita Anand
Anita Anand's rise through cabinet has been seen by some analysts as evidence of leadership ambitions. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)Anita Anand was first named to cabinet in 2019 and has held several portfolios since then. Initially given the typically low-profile role of procurement minister, she quickly rose to prominence in that position during the pandemic when acquiring vaccines and personal protective equipment became a priority for the government.
The Ontario MP was later promoted to defence minister in 2021, holding the file during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the next year.
She also moved military sexual misconduct cases into civilian courts amid a sexual assault crisis in the Armed Forces.
Anand's star minister status drove speculation about her leadership aspirations, and her personal website still features a 2022 Maclean's article that says she's among the "obvious possible leadership contenders" after Trudeau.
Trudeau's 2023 shuffling of Anand to president of the Treasury Board caused rumours of a demotion.
But Anand quickly found a way to grab headlines in the new position, sending a letter that gave cabinet colleagues months to find $15.4 billion in cuts over the next five years. She also took on the dual role of transport minister after Pablo Rodriguez's resignation in September.
"Chrystia Freeland is a good friend," Anand said after Freeland's resignation. "This news has hit me really hard and I'll reserve further comment until I have time to process it."
Four days later, she emerged from a cabinet swearing-in ceremony where she swapped treasury for a new "internal trade" file and declared her support for Trudeau.
Christy Clark
Former
B.C. premier Christy Clark did not rule out running for the federal
Conservatives, but now says she wants to be part of the conversation to
find a new Liberal leader. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)Former B.C. premier Christy Clark once faced questions about running for the Conservative leadership, refusing to rule out the possibility in an interview with Power & Politics in 2019.
Last October, she released a statement saying she "would like to be part of the discussion about the future direction of the Liberal Party and the country."
Clark's critics have previously pointed to her limited French as a barrier to entering federal politics.
But sources tell Radio-Canada that Clark has been taking French lessons.
In late December, she posted a pair of two holiday videos on social media — one in each official language.
In early January, Clark also attacked the Conservatives on X, suggesting they want to "turn back the clock" on abortion. She promoted the Liberal candidate running in Poilievre's Carleton riding in Ottawa.
Clark thanked Trudeau Monday in a post on X, but indicated that his resignation was an opportunity for the Liberal party.
"I look forward to joining tens of thousands of Canadians to choose our next leader. This is the biggest opportunity in over a decade that we've had to grow our party and welcome new Liberals — including Canadians concerned about the future of our country," she wrote.
François-Philippe Champagne
François-Philippe Champagne has long been rumoured to be a potential successor to Trudeau. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)François-Philippe Champagne has been a prominent member of Trudeau's front bench since 2018, holding a number of cabinet portfolios. He was previously minister of infrastructure and foreign affairs, but has served as minister of science and innovation since 2021.
Considered one of the most energetic members of cabinet, his name has long been rumoured as a potential successor to Trudeau — though he was also previously floated as a possible contender for the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party.
In October, as a group of MPs rallied to push Trudeau out, Champagne told reporters that those dissenters should be heard out.
"There's certainly issues that we need to address. We're going to address them in caucus," Champagne told reporters at the time. "I think the best thing we can do now as a team is listen to our colleagues. I think there's a moment for us to listen, to understand the concerns."
As calls for Trudeau's resignation within caucus intensified in the wake of Freeland's resignation last month, Champagne said the main focus should be on preparing Canada for expected tariff fight with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to slap a levy on all goods coming into the U.S. shortly after he takes office.
Champagne thanked Trudeau on Monday in a post on X.
"From helping Canadians in times of need to reshaping our country's industrial landscape and seizing generational opportunities, Canada can look forward to the future with confidence," he wrote.
Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson is working on his own leadership campaign, a source told CBC News. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is organizing a leadership bid, one source has told CBC News.
The B.C. MP was elected when the Liberals won in 2015 and has been part of Trudeau's cabinet since 2018. Wilkinson was previously environment minister and fisheries minister before taking on the natural resources portfolio.
Wilkinson has been a vocal defender of the Liberals' carbon tax in the face of increasing criticism from Conservatives and premiers who oppose the policy.
Karina Gould
Some Liberals are encouraging House Leader Karina Gould to run for leadership, sources told CBC News. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)A number of MPs and Liberal party brass are encouraging government House Leader Karina Gould to run for the leadership, two of her advisers have told CBC News.
As the Liberals' point person in the House of Commons, Gould was tasked with trying to manage what has been a tumultuous parliamentary sitting this past fall.
The Ontario MP has held a number of cabinet positions in Trudeau's government and was the first minister in Canadian history to take a maternity leave.
Frank Baylis
Former
Liberal MP Frank Baylis speaks in the House of Commons on June 14,
2019. Baylis told CBC News earlier this summer that he was considering a
Liberal leadership bid. (Parliament of Canada)Following the Liberals' defeat in Toronto-St. Paul's, former MP Frank Baylis told CBC News in June that he would consider a bid to replace Trudeau.
"A number of people are asking me to think about this, and I'm taking their request seriously," Baylis said at the time.
Baylis represented Pierrefonds-Dollard, another riding considered one of the safest in the country for the Liberals, in Montreal's West Island, from 2015 to 2019 when he stepped down.
He is the executive chair of Baylis Medical Tech, a company he sold to a larger American firm, Boston Scientific, for $1.75 billion US in 2022.
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With files from CBC's Racy Rafique, Kate McKenna and Philip Ling
Justin Trudeau's resignation puts spotlight on former B.C. premier Christy Clark
Clark has in the past voiced interest in leading federal Liberal Party
Justin Trudeau's resignation has put former B.C. premier Christy Clark squarely back in the political spotlight.
Clark publicly expressed interest in leading the federal Liberal Party in October 2024 but noted at the time the job was not open. Now, of course, following Trudeau's announcement on Monday morning, it is.
On social media Monday, Clark posted messages in French and English, thanking Trudeau and wishing him well:
"As a lifelong Liberal I look forward to joining tens of thousands of Canadians to choose our next leader," she said. "This is the biggest opportunity in over a decade that we've had to grow our Party and welcome new Liberals — including Canadians concerned about the future of our country — let's seize it," she said.
Clark was premier from 2011-2017 and leader of the B.C. Liberal Party, which was never affiliated with the federal Liberals.
She is one of many names being floated as a potential candidate to replace Trudeau as the federal party's new leader.
Distance from Trudeau an asset
More than a few pundits have noted that given Trudeau's deep unpopularity, the Liberal Party might do well to choose an outsider not closely affiliated with the prime minister — such as Clark or former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
"I think the interesting names of Mark Carney and Christy Clark are flying around, not surprisingly, because they don't have that tie to Trudeau like some of the other candidates do," said Sanjay Jeram, senior political science lecturer at Simon Fraser University.
The president of the Conservative Party of B.C. said while Clark is a long shot for leader, she is well positioned to distance herself from Trudeau's reputation and record.
"Who knows? A lot can change in politics in a couple of days so maybe she'll move up and be a contender," said Aisha Estey.
Estey believes Trudeau's resignation could lead to a federal election as early as April instead of the fixed date of Oct. 20.
"It's a very interesting time. Conservatives, we want an election now. We don't think the country should be put through a leadership race for the Liberal Party, but this, hopefully, will speed up the process," she said on CBC's The Early Edition.
Throwback: When Christy Clark's B.C. Liberal government was toppled in 2017Clark resigned from provincial politics in 2017 after the John Horgan-led B.C. NDP signed a confidence and supply agreement with the B.C. Green Party to defeat Clark's minority government.
Her website says she is currently a "sought-after Canadian keynote speaker at events across the country and internationally and serves as advisor to some of Canada's leading organizations."
Reaction to Trudeau's announcement he is stepping down came from all political corners in B.C.
Former Vancouver Granville MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, who had an acrimonious falling out with Trudeau after serving as his justice minister and attorney general, said on social media, "We can finally turn the page."
"Well, the PM did not sound like he wanted to go [and] was sadly not too gracious, but he is going. I thank him for his service," she wrote. "...we must keep focus on building a stronger Canada in an increasingly volatile [and] uncertain world."
Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet and was expelled from caucus over what came to be known as the SNC-Lavalin affair.
B.C. Premier David Eby said in a statement, "While we didn't always agree, I want to thank Justin Trudeau for serving as Prime Minister during some very difficult times our country has faced.
"British Columbians have benefited from several initiatives started under Justin Trudeau, including the federal government's decision to partner with B.C. on lowering the cost of child care," said Eby.
Opposition B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad posted that Eby "has lost his number one political ally today with Trudeau's resignation."
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David Amos
Christy Clark could give PP many sleepless nights even after the election
Walter Vrbetic
Reply to David Amos
Dreamy fantasies?
David Amos
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
Nope Everybody knows she is a Conservative Hence she could fight fire with fire so to speak
speak
John Lydon
Reply to David Amos
PP's better half might have something to say about that.
David Amos
Reply to John Lydon
How so?
Walter Vrbetic
Whatever happened to Progressive Conservatives of yore...
I wax nostalgic at times.
Michael Tree Scott
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
They are now Regressive
Walter Vrbetic
Reply to Michael Tree Scott
No, they no longer exist.
David Amos
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
They went the way of the Dodo Bird long ago
Denis van humbeck
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
Mulroney was never progressive.
David Amos
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Joe Clark was the last Progressive Conservative PM
Walter Vrbetic
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Didn't he and Reagan develop a program to address acid rain? How times change.
Michael Tree Scott
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
Now they all deny climate change.
Walter Vrbetic
Reply to Michael Tree Scott
They once believed in science...
Michael Tree Scott
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
Yep. Now it's just social media rage farming.
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