Justin Trudeau will be resigning as Canadian prime minister and as leader of the country's Liberal Party. The decision thrusts the nation into an uncertain time, just as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump makes comments about America's northern neighbor becoming the "51st state."
Trudeau had been beset by sagging poll numbers. He will remain in both roles until a new Liberal Party leader is selected. That person would become prime minister until federal elections are held.
"Every morning I've woken up as prime minister, I've been inspired by the resilience, the generosity, and the determination of Canadians," Trudeau, 53, said in an emotional speech from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Canada on January 6. "That is why since 2015, I've fought for this country - for you - to strengthen and grow the middle class, to rally and support each other through the pandemic, to advance reconciliation, to defend free trade on this continent, to stand strong with Ukraine and our democracy, and to fight climate change and get our economy ready for the future.
"This country deserves a real choice in the next election," he continued. "It has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election."
Trudeau's announcement signaled the end of an era in Canadian politics. For nearly a decade, Trudeau led a progressive agenda and was a champion of LGBTQ rights. The end of his tenure is marked by an anti-LGBTQ backlash and historic low approval ratings at 22% within his party and among voters, reported the BBC.
Last month, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland abruptly resigned, an indicator that internal party dissent reached a boiling point. The Advocate reported Freeland was critical of Trudeau's leadership and spending policies.
Canadians have also been frustrated with a high cost of living in the wake of COVID-19 and surging immigration, reported the Associated Press.
Trudeau's announcement comes two weeks before Trump's inauguration. It leaves Trudeau's party to search for its next leader and manage Trump's threats to raise tariffs or make Canada the 51st state, according to the AP.
Trudeau's announcement also kicked off the race to take his place and has sent Canada's government into a tailspin. Canada's next federal election was scheduled to take place before October 20. The CBC reported three opposition parties are jockeying to push for an election.
According to CNN, polls are showing the Liberal Party is behind anti-LGBTQ Conservative Party leader and Member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre. To tame the political upheaval and allow time for the Liberal Party to choose a new leader, Governor General Mary Simon agreed to suspend Parliament until March 24. This will keep the legislative body from reconvening at the end of January.
A historic reign
Trudeau is the son of Canada's former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, who served from 1968-1979 and from 1980-1984. The younger Trudeau took office in 2015 after defeating then-prime minister Stephen Harper.
Trudeau's tenure as Canada's prime minister was defined by progressive policies and landmark achievements for human rights, especially LGBTQ rights.
A year after he came into office, Trudeau appointed Canada's LGBTQ2 expert, Randy Boissonnault, as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported. Boissonnault, a gay man and politician, advised on implementing a report from Égale, Canada's national charity promoting LGBTQ rights. "The Just Society Report" examined various types of discrimination LGBTQs face.
Also in 2016, Trudeau's administration passed its first groundbreaking legislation protecting gender identity and gender expression in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, reported the Advocate. The law protected transgender and nonbinary people from discrimination and hate crimes. He also appointed Canada's first-ever Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan to continue building a more inclusive future.
In 2021, Canada banned so-called conversion therapy, the B.A.R. reported. At the time, Trudeau called conversion therapy a "hateful and harmful practice," reported the Washington Blade.
Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to convert gay people to being straight and transgender people to the gender they were assigned at birth. The practice has been deemed torture and debunked by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and other organizations around the world.
Trudeau also made travel a bit easier for transgender people by issuing gender-neutral passports with "X" as a gender marker in 2023, according to a Canadian government news release.
Trudeau became a champion for the queer community globally, from apologizing for Canada's persecution of LGBTQ people to raising the Pride flag at Parliament buildings during Pride Month to being the first prime minister to march in Pride parades across Canada. He appeared on "Drag Race Canada" and spoke out against LGBTQ hate globally to conservatives in his own country.
But things have changed in recent years. Alberta's conservative Premier Danielle Smith has been critical of transgender youth and proposed anti-transgender policies targeting youth.
"If Premier Smith wants to fight someone, stand up and fight for Canadians on lower grocery prices, on affordable fuel, on more housing, on fighting climate change," Trudeau told CBC.
"Fight with us to defend the rights of vulnerable Canadians. Don't fight against vulnerable LGBT youth," he added.
Trudeau's government invested in Canada's LGBTQ community, as well as globally. In 2019, the B.A.R. reported, Trudeau's government pledged $30 million supporting LGBTQ rights around the world and his government pledged $20 million to Canadian LGBTQ organizations. In 2023, Trudeau's administration doubled down in the face of raising hate, investing $1.7 million in six LGBTQ organizations, according to a news release from the Canadian government.
That same year, Trudeau's administration partnered with LGBTQ refugee organization Rainbow Railroad to welcome LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers to Canada.
Yet, those who are critical of Trudeau's administration regarding LGBTQ rights say more work remains to be done. Critics pointed out that Trudeau's administration didn't close gaps in access to gender-affirming health care or curb violence against the LGBTQ community, as examples.
Got international LGBTQ news tips? Call or send them to Heather Cassell at WhatsApp/Signal: 415-517-7239, or [email protected]
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