Justin Trudeau Resigns as Canadian Prime Minister, Liberal Leadership Race Heats Up

Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney emerge as leading contenders in a fast-tracked race to determine Trudeau's successor ahead of a probable spring election.

Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on January 6, citing plans to step down once the Liberal Party selects a new leader by March 9.
Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau's former deputy prime minister and finance minister, is expected to run after her high-profile resignation last month criticizing Trudeau's economic policies.
Mark Carney, former Bank of Canada governor, is also preparing to enter the race, with other potential candidates including Mélanie Joly and François-Philippe Champagne still undecided.
The leadership contest comes as the Liberal Party faces plummeting poll numbers and rising pressure from Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party ahead of an anticipated spring election.
The race's tight timeline and high entry fee of $350,000 have raised concerns about accessibility and fairness, as the party finalizes rules for candidate eligibility and voting procedures.