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Justin Trudeau was once the ‘golden boy’ of Canadian politics. But he lost his shine

By Farrah Tomazin
Updated

Washington: He was the once golden boy of progressive politics: a champion of climate change; an advocate for women and human rights; and a poster child for glossy magazines such as Vogue, which previously described him as a “political dreamboat”.

But after leading the country for almost a decade, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to step down after weeks of mounting pressure from within his own ranks, paving the way for a new, unpredictable era during Donald Trump’s second presidency in the US.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, seen here in 2017, came to office in late 2015.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, seen here in 2017, came to office in late 2015.Credit: The Canadian Press via AP

“This country deserves a real choice in the next election and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles I cannot be the best option,” the 53-year-old said at a snowy Rideau Cottage, his official residence in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, on Monday (Tuesday AEDT).

Having come to office as a symbol of liberalism at a time when populism was on the rise, Trudeau now leaves as the latest leader in the West to be swept aside in an anti-incumbency wave.

Trudeau’s decision comes weeks after Trump threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government did not curb migrants and drugs entering the US from the northern border.

Canadian Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau in 2015.

Canadian Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau in 2015.Credit: AP

In the end, the nation’s 23rd prime minister had little choice. While Trudeau – the son of storied PM Pierre Trudeau – was initially applauded for returning the country to its progressive past, he has become widely unpopular over a range of issues from inflation and cost of living pressures, to surging immigration.

Trudeau also faced repeated scandals over foreign interference schemes in Canada, as well as a diplomatic row with India after an assassination plot on Canadian soil.

Last month, a growing number of Liberal party members called on him to make way for a new leader, in a stinging rebuke exacerbated by his Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigning from the cabinet in a show of no confidence.

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According to an Ipsos poll released last month, 73 per cent of Canadians – including 43 per cent of Liberal voters – also took the view that he should resign as party leader, while all three opposition parties had declared they would support a vote to topple his minority government.

And then, of course, there was Trump himself, who brought Trudeau’s weakened position into sharper focus by calling for Canada to become America’s “51st state” and mocking its leader as a small-time “governor”.

With the writing on the wall, Trudeau announced his decision to resign as Liberal party leader – hours before the US Congress was set to certify Trump’s victory – after deciding during the Christmas break that the country needed to recalibrate.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre left, takes a selfie with a person in a wheelchair during a visit to Penticton, British Columbia in 2018.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre left, takes a selfie with a person in a wheelchair during a visit to Penticton, British Columbia in 2018.Credit: AP

Rather than call an election immediately, he will stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new leader is chosen, and parliament will be suspended until March 24 as the process gets underway.

“We are, right now, the longest serving minority government in history – and it’s time for a reset,” he said. “It’s time for the temperature to come down, for the people to have a fresh start in parliament, and to be able to navigate through these complex times both domestically and internationally.”

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“Removing me from the equation as the leader who will fight the next election for the Liberal Party should also decrease the level of polarisation that we’re seeing right now in the house and in Canadian politics, and allow people to actually focus on serving Canadians in this house and with their work - the way Canadians deserve.”

But will it?

An Ipsos poll, published in late December, found the Liberals trail Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, by 25 percentage points.

To that end, whoever takes over from Trudeau faces an almost insurmountable climb to win the next election.

And even if they did, they would have the daunting task of navigating a testy relationship with the second Trump administration.

Trump’s protectionist tendencies led to tariffs on aluminum and steel during his first term and more could come.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lifts his son Hadrien into the air following his speech in Halifax in 2018.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lifts his son Hadrien into the air following his speech in Halifax in 2018. Credit: AP

And it’s no secret that he’s deeply sceptical of NATO – of which Canada is a member – and he wants a more hardline immigration stance on the northern border.

However, Trump is likely to favour Canadian fuel, potentially revisiting the Keystone XL pipeline, which was cancelled by the Biden administration.

Trudeau’s resignation had long been seen as a foregone conclusion. The big question, however, is where does it leave his party, and US-Canada relations in the era of Trump?

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Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5l2gc