Justin Trudeau Announces He Will Quit

**OTTAWA, Canada** — In a significant political shift, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday his intention to resign as leader of the Liberal Party. This decision places his successor in a challenging position against the backdrop of facing Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party enjoys nearly three times the voter support at 47%, compared to the Liberals’ 18% in the current electoral landscape.

Pierre Poilievre, who entered the House of Commons in 2004 at age 45, assumed the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada in 2022. His rise in popularity coincides with the public’s growing disenchantment with Trudeau, who has led the Liberals since their 2015 victory.

The Conservative campaign has prominently featured themes like “Bring home the Canadian dream.” Poilievre has lambasted the Liberals for adopting what he calls “an extremely radical ideology,” labeling it as “authoritarian socialism” during a lengthy discussion on Jordan Peterson’s podcast.

Trudeau has countered by drawing parallels between Poilievre’s messaging and that of former U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting that Poilievre’s vision is akin to the “Make America Great Again” slogan. However, Poilievre distinguishes himself, notably rejecting Trump’s provocative comments about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state. In an interview with CTV News, Poilievre asserted Canada’s sovereignty, saying, “Canada will never be the 51st state of the U.S.”

The ideological clashes between Trudeau and Poilievre are likely to come to a head soon, with the Conservative Party poised to lead the next Canadian government. An anticipated vote of no-confidence could dissolve the current Liberal minority government, leading to a general election possibly in the spring.

Poilievre’s foreign policy intentions include renegotiating the Safe Third Country Agreement to address illegal entries and affirming Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moving away from the current embassy location in Tel Aviv.

Addressing economic issues, Poilievre plans to expedite construction in the energy sector, enhancing Canada’s ability to export oil, gas, and electricity at more competitive rates. He has criticized current trade terms with the U.S. as detrimental to Canadian interests.

Domestically, he promises a robust crackdown on crime, ensuring that “habitual offenders will not get out of jail anymore,” alongside measures to enhance border security and tackle immigration, drug policy, and financial management.

In response to Trudeau’s resignation, Poilievre maintained that his strategy remains unchanged, emphasizing a focus on national control, security, and economic strength. He reiterated his commitment to prioritize Canada in all policy decisions, stating, “We will put Canada First.”