Cannabis, dental care, medical assistance in dying… Justin Trudeau’s legacy will be above all social

Justin Trudeau has resigned after more than nine years in power.

Parliament will be prorogued and will resume its work on March 24. Trudeau says he made his decision during the holidays, after discussing it with his family.

During its mandate, the federal government was very active in social policy. From legalizing cannabis to allowing medical assistance in dying to introducing dental care, pharmacare and publicly subsidized daycare, Justin Trudeau has reimagined what Canadians can expect from their government.

The son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, 15^e Prime Minister of Canada, leaves office without ever having experienced an electoral defeat.

He managed to get elected for the first time as an MP in 2008, run for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 2013 and win his first national election as prime minister in 2015.

The 2015 election captured the imagination, as Trudeau’s Liberal Party entered the race with just 36 seats and another defeat was expected. But thanks to the “sunny” campaign led by Trudeau, his energy and his friendly face, the party obtained an overwhelming majority with 184 seats.

Trudeau also drew international praise for appointing a gender-balanced cabinet, a policy he continued throughout his term.

Read more: “Because it’s 2019”: where are we with parity in politics?

Minority governments and Donald Trump

Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were re-elected in 2019 and 2021, but each time with a minority government that needed the support in Parliament of the New Democratic Party, a left-wing party.

Trudeau has dealt with three American presidents, most notably with Donald Trump during his first term, during the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

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Following his re-election in November 2024, Donald Trump repeatedly mocked Trudeau, calling him the governor of America’s 51st state — comments that most Canadians find deeply offensive.

Read more: “Governor Justin Trudeau”: Trump’s statements under the magnifying glass of psychoanalysis

The Covid-19 pandemic occurred during Justin Trudeau’s mandate. As with other social policies, the Trudeau Liberals have instituted a series of measures to protect public health. Trudeau also invoked the Emergency Measures Act, which allowed the federal government to exercise extraordinary powers to clear protesters who blocked downtown Ottawa for weeks in February 2022.

A fierce struggle

Justin Trudeau’s resignation comes as most members of his own party have lost confidence in him in recent months, particularly in his ability to win a fourth term. But the Liberals, with or without Trudeau, face an uphill battle after nearly a decade in power.

Winning a fourth consecutive term is rare in Canada. Only two prime ministers — Wilfrid Laurier and John A. Macdonald — have done so, and both accomplished the feat more than a century ago, at a time when there were fewer political parties.

By resigning now, rather than face his own party and suffer what appears to be certain defeat in the next election, Justin Trudeau is leaving politics on a relatively positive note. The surprise resignation of one of his closest collaborators, Chrystia Freeland, probably played a role in his decision.

Perhaps Trudeau has learned his lesson from United States President Joe Biden, who sought to run for an additional term, only to be forced to withdraw at the last moment by his own party. Critics said Joe Biden’s clinging efforts and last-minute change of heart contributed to Kamala Harris’ defeat and the loss of the White House to Donald Trump.

A personal cost

While Justin Trudeau was in power, his marriage ended, as did that of his own parents decades ago when Pierre Trudeau was in power. Two of his children are teenagers while the youngest is ten years old. Justin Trudeau once said: “The best days of my life are the ones I spent outside with my children.”

He will now have more time to devote to his family.

Still young (53 years old), Justin Trudeau could begin a second public life, as the late American President Jimmy Carter did after his four years in the Oval Office. He could also withdraw from the public sphere and pursue a career in the private sector.

Whatever his future, Trudeau leaves an indelible mark on Canada, particularly on its social policies.