The Liberals were put on blast after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation in what Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called an attempt “to trick voters.”
Canada’s opposition leaders were quick to respond to Prime Minster Justin Trudeau’s resignation on Monday by offering scathing criticisms of his leadership.
While some leaders issued a statement, the Leader of the Official Opposition, Pierre Poilievre, paired his comments with a video on X.
“Nothing has changed,” wrote Poilievre in his post to X. “Every Liberal MP and leadership contender supported everything Trudeau did for nine years, and now they want to trick voters by swapping in another Liberal face to keep ripping off Canadians for another four years, just like Justin.”
In his video, Poilievre pointed to the Liberals’ support for the carbon tax, which he said contributed to inflation. Additionally, the Conservative leader accused the Liberals of supporting overspending, endebting Canada, and unchecked immigration. He said the policies caused housing costs to double, violent crime to rise by 50%, gun crime to increase by 116%, and hate crimes to surge by 250%.
“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 paycheque by sweeping their hated leader under the rug months before an election to trick you and then do it all over again,” said Poilievre.
He added that his Conservative government would cap spending, axe taxes, and bring prosperity back to Canada.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also released a statement bashing Trudeau.
“Justin Trudeau has let you down, over and over,” said Singh. “It doesn’t matter who leads the Liberals. They don’t deserve another chance.”
He also took aim at Poilievre, saying that Canadians will pay for the cuts that Conservatives will allegedly make.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May issued the most compassionate statement among opposition leaders. She said that Trudeau was not groomed to fill his father’s shoes and struggled with the decision to eventually become the Liberal leader.
Despite noting the Liberal party’s “broken promises,” she thanked Trudeau for his service. May added that public service has become increasingly challenging given the verbal and public abuse some face.
But it wasn’t all kind words from May.
“The fact that the announcement could surprise no one is to admit the obvious—over the last year, but particularly the last few weeks since December 16, the decline in his support has been painful to watch, like a slow-motion train wreck,” said May.
Bloc Québecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet hosted a press conference reacting to the news primarily in French.
Blanchet said that Trudeau made the right decision in announcing his resignation.
However, he said that irrespective of the new leader the Liberals choose, all of the candidates are members of Trudeau’s inner circle.
“History will determine Justin Tudeau’s personal record as Prime Minister. But Quebecers will judge the Liberal government’s record in general,” said Blanchet. “And I’m afraid that judgment will be extremely harsh.”
Blanchet said that despite Parliament being prorogued, a general election needs to be called as soon as possible. He predicted that the election will take place in Spring 2025.
“There’s no reason why this government should stay in office any longer than the minimum necessary time to appoint a new leader,” he said.
But regardless of who becomes leader, Blanchet said he has no interest in working with them.
“The institution we are facing is the Liberal Party of Canada. It has been deeply transformed by Mr. Trudeau, and there is no possible way for this party to become something else in a few weeks. So we are facing the same people with the same values,” said Blanchet.
He added that he hopes President-elect Donald Trump will stall his pending tariff threats out of respect for the statehood of Canada because no legitimate negotiator is currently available.
Another Quebec native, Leader of the People’s Party of Canada Maxime Bernier, took his turn bashing Trudeau.
“He’s finally leaving after having completed his task of practically destroying Canada on all levels,” said Bernier. “Good riddance, but there is no reason to celebrate. It won’t be easy to put the pieces back together.”