Ottawa [Canada]: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau highlighted the accomplishments of the Liberal Party over the past decade while looking forward to the future, just hours before the announcement of his successor as party leader, according to CBC News.
In his address at the Liberal Leadership Convention, Trudeau expressed pride in his party’s achievements, stating, “I am damn proud of what we’ve done over these past 10 years for the middle class and the people working hard to join it.”
As the Liberal Party prepares to enter a new chapter, Trudeau emphasized the responsibility to uphold Canada’s status as a leading nation. He urged his supporters to continue striving for the country, saying, “There is a responsibility to ensure that Canada stays the best country on Earth!”
In one of his final speeches as Canada’s Prime Minister and the Liberal Party leader, Trudeau warned that democracy and freedom are not guaranteed. He said, “Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given.” He added, “None of those happened by accident. None of them will continue without effort.”
Trudeau also paid tribute to Lester B. Pearson, a former Canadian Prime Minister, recalling how 60 years ago, Pearson raised the Canadian flag on Parliament Hill. He remarked, “Sixty years later, there are still so many more chapters to write. And I can tell you the world is looking to see what Canadians will do,” as reported by CBC News.
Reflecting on his own leadership journey, Trudeau recalled how the Liberal Party was in a distant third place when he took over as leader in 2013. He stated, “It’s when you try to count us out that we Liberals show our true mettle.” He also acknowledged the support of two long-time associates: Adam Scotti, his photographer, and Katie Telford, his chief of staff, who have stood by him for over a decade.
In an emotional moment, Trudeau’s daughter, Ella-Grace Trudeau, introduced her father, celebrating his achievements and looking forward to spending more time with him outside of politics. Ella-Grace, 16, expressed her pride, saying, “Dad, I’m so proud of you.” She also spoke in French about the challenges of being the Prime Minister’s daughter, mentioning safety concerns and the difficulties of choosing friends.
The event commenced with speeches from the four candidates competing to become the next Liberal Party leader. Their addresses were heavily focused on responding to Trump’s tariff and annexation threats. The contenders include former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former House leader and current MP Karina Gould, and Montreal business leader and former MP Frank Baylis, as reported by CBC News.
The winner of the leadership race will be sworn in as Canada’s Prime Minister by the Governor General. This transition follows Trudeau’s announcement in early January of his decision to step down amid a growing caucus revolt and Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from the cabinet.
One of the first challenges for the new leader will be deciding whether to call for an immediate election or wait until Parliament reconvenes on March 24. Recently, Trudeau indicated that he expects the transition to take place “in the coming days or week.”