Lethbridge leaders, political experts react to Trudeau resignation

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his resignation as Liberal leader and prime minister outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press)

LETHBRIDGE — Following Monday's announcement that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down as Liberal leader, political experts in Lethbridge say it was a matter of time before he'd resign.

"I don't think it's a huge surprise for a lot of people," said Lars Hallstrom, a professor of political science at the University of Lethbridge.

"The resignation of the deputy prime minister after the post-cabinet reshuffle also got a lot of attention, so I think he spent some time with his family and thought about what he wanted to do and if he wanted to stay in this and perhaps, understandably, decided it was time to step back."

During the announcement outside his official Rideau Cottage residence, Trudeau said he'll stay on as prime minister until a new leader is chosen.

Parliament is also prorogued.

"We look forward to learning more about the coming changes with our federal government," Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said in a statement to CTV News.

"As always, Lethbridge city council will continue to advocate for the supports we need in our city to best serve our residents."

During a scheduled media conference, Premier Danielle Smith, who has long been at odds with the feds, said she wishes the prime minister had called an election on Monday to deal with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's tariff threat.

"We’ve got a lame-duck leader with no immediate plans to leave, with no resolution to who's going to be the bargaining partner until I think it was suggested as late as May," Smith said.

Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas said all Liberal MPs and Trudeau have broken the country over the past nine years and echoed Smith's comments to call an election now.

"Liberal MPs are dumping Trudeau, not because they've had a change of heart, but because he is no longer popular enough to win an election and keep them in power," Thomas said in a statement to CTV News.

"Now, while leaderless Liberals focus on saving their jobs and fighting each other for power, the country spirals out of control.

"We need a carbon tax election now, so Canadians can choose between the NDP-Liberal costly coalition and common-sense Conservatives who will cap spending, axe taxes, reward work, build homes, uphold family, stop crime, secure borders and restore freedom."

Hallstrom said finding a new leader will be no small feat.

"The political taste that many people currently have for the Liberal Party under Justin Trudeau isn't great," he said.

"It takes a while for that to go away, so there is no immediate front-runner who is going to jump in and say, 'Yes, this is my race to run. This is my leadership to hold.'"