Justin Trudeau taking the time to reflect on his future: natural resources minister

By David Baxter, The Canadian Press on December 17, 2024.

The Canadian flag flies atop the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA – Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says Justin Trudeau is taking some time to reflect after the bombshell resignation of his top cabinet minister on Monday.

Chrystia Freeland quit as finance minister just hours before she was set to present the government’s fall economic statement.

That kicked off a day of turmoil on Parliament Hill including an evening meeting of the Liberal caucus, where some members called for Trudeau to step aside as party leader.

Wilkinson says the prime minister will take time to reflect, both on Freeland’s decision to quit and on what caucus had to say about his future.

Several Liberal MPs have also publicly called for Trudeau to step down, including Wayne Long, who says he thinks as many as 40 or 50 of his colleagues agree it’s time for a new leader.

Earlier this morning, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said Trudeau has lost the political, moral and ethical authority to govern, and said he should call an election in January.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024.

– With files from Nick Murray and Michel Saba