Some quotes on Justin Trudeau’s decision to step down

By The Canadian Press staff, The Canadian Press on January 6, 2025.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA – Justin Trudeau announced Monday he will step down as prime minister and Liberal leader once the party chooses his successor.

Here are some quotes:

“Canadians deserve a real choice in the next election and it has become obvious to me, with the internal battles, that I cannot be the one to carry the Liberal standard into the next election.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

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“Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving. But what has really changed? Every Liberal MP in power today and every potential Liberal leadership contender fighting for the top job helped Justin Trudeau break the country over the last nine years.”

– Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre

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“The problem is not just Justin Trudeau. It’s every minister that’s been calling the shots. 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.”

– NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

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“There is no significant difference between the Liberal party that we know and the Liberal party that will be presented to us after there’s a new leader.”

– Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet

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“President-elect Trump continues to make real threats about imposing sweeping tariffs that would devastate Canada’s economy. In two weeks, the president-elect will be sworn in as America’s next president and will have every opportunity to make his threats real. Between now and then, the federal government needs to do everything humanly possible to avoid these tariffs, including by doing more to secure our border and offering a credible plan to invest more in Canada’s military to meet and exceed our NATO spending commitments.”

– Ontario Premier Doug Ford

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“As a lifelong Liberal I look forward to joining tens of thousands of Canadians to choose our next leader. This is the biggest opportunity in over a decade that we’ve had to grow our Party and welcome new Liberals – including Canadians concerned about the future of our country – let’s seize it!”

– Christy Clark, former British Columbia premier

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2025.