Prime 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 β including Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario β 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.
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."
In 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.
"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."