POLICY. Federal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he will step down as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (PLC) and head of government as soon as a successor is chosen. Beauce MP Richard Lehoux said he would have liked to know the date of the elections.
Following numerous resignations of ministers from his federal cabinet, declines in national polls, and scandals of all kinds, Mr. Trudeau decided – after serious reflection – that it was time for him to throw in the towel. He asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until March 24.
“There we are sure of one thing, there will be no elections before March 24,” laments the MP for Beauce, Richard Lehoux.
A new speech from the throne by the Governor General will be presented and a new federal budget will be tabled on Parliament Hill when proceedings resume.
Bad news
The past few months have only gotten worse for the Prime Minister, particularly since the election of Donald Trump to the American presidency and the resounding resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
According to the latest country-wide data (January 5, 2025) from the statistical electoral projection model Qc125, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals would be at 20%, far behind the 45% of Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party of Canada (PCC).
The support in Quebec is not more encouraging for the PLC. Indeed, last November, a Léger survey – The Montreal Journal – TVA placed the Liberals (22%) neck and neck with the Conservatives (24%) for second place behind the Bloc Québécois (35%) in the province.
-Reaction from Richard Lehoux
Beauce MP Richard Lehoux commented on the Liberal leader’s decision to resign and prorogue Parliament. “The only thing we are missing is the date of the elections.” Like his leader, the conservative Pierre Poilievre, the Beauceron politician called for federal general elections as soon as possible.
With the prorogation of the Parliament of Canada, all bills that did not receive Royal Assent (from the Governor General) before the prorogation disappear completely and, in order for them to move forward, must be re-introduced at the next session as if they had never seen the light of day.
According to Mr. Lehoux, we must not forget that the next leader of the PLC will not be able to easily dissociate himself from the decisions taken by the Liberals. “All decisions were supported by Justin Trudeau’s council of ministers.”
The member for Beauce also mentions that the Bloc and New Democrats supported the Liberal leader in the House of Commons on numerous occasions before changing their tune recently.
County projections
Note that the most recent projections for the electoral district of Beauce give a solid lead to the Conservative Party and its representative, MP Richard Lehoux, with 66% according to Qc125 (January 5, 2025). The Bloc Québécois is at 16%, the Popular Party at 7%, the Liberal Party at 4%, the New Democratic Party at 4%, and the Green Party at 3%.
