Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed he will not seek re-election after announcing his resignation as Liberal leader last week.
Trudeau delivered the news following his first in-person meeting with Canada’s premiers in nearly two years.
“I am entirely focused on doing the job that Canadians elected me to do in an extraordinarily pivotal time right now,” said Trudeau.
“The U.S. inauguration and the weeks that follow are something that are of deep, deep importance to Canadians, and we are entirely focused on that as a team.”
President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration is just days away, and the threat of punishing 25% tariffs on Canadian goods.
During the meeting, Trudeau, the premiers, and key federal ministers discussed strategies for countering potential trade barriers.
Trudeau praised Premier Scott Moe and Premier Doug Ford for putting national interests ahead of partisan politics.
“I do want to say that (Saskatchewan Premier) Scott (Moe) and (Ontario Premier) Doug (Ford), and a number of the folks who’ve been around a while have been extraordinarily invaluable in these conversations, in this Team Canada approach,” said Trudeau.
“There’s always a lot of politics going on around this country, but to know when to step up in the Canadian national interest, and to know that that’s what Canadians want to see, is really to the credit of everyone around this table.”
Trudeau is ending his political career after more than nine years as Prime Minister and almost 13 years as the leader of the Liberal Party.
He was first elected in 2008 as an MP and took over as leader in 2013.
Although the race to replace him has not officially started, several well-known Liberals have already declared their intentions.
Anyone wishing to run must notify the party and make an initial $350,000 payment by January 23. The new leader will be chosen on March 9.
