OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for an immediate federal election, citing the Liberal government’s internal collapse and the urgent need to prepare for Donald Trump’s potential inauguration as U.S. president on January 20, 2025.
The call follows a political shockwave on Monday, as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland abruptly resigned, hours before she was scheduled to deliver the fall economic statement. Freeland’s departure comes amid reported disputes with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office over fiscal strategy, leaving the government scrambling for stability.
“It would be ideal to have the election done before the president takes office or within the first week or two of his mandate,” Poilievre said in a press conference Monday. “So that Canadians would have a strong prime minister, with brains and backbone… facing down President Trump and our American competitors.”
Freeland’s resignation letter, shared on social media, took aim at Trudeau’s leadership, accusing him of pursuing “costly political gimmicks” at a time when Canada faces potential trade threats. “We need to take that threat extremely seriously,” the letter read, referring to Trump’s campaign promise to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports unless both countries crack down on illegal migrant and drug flows into the U.S.
Liberal Leadership in Disarray
Freeland’s resignation is the most significant crack yet in Trudeau’s minority government. Housing Minister Sean Fraser also announced on Monday that he is stepping down and will not seek re-election, compounding the leadership crisis. Liberal backbencher Chad Collins, who co-signed an October letter urging Trudeau to resign, renewed his call for the Prime Minister to step aside.
New Brunswick Liberal MP Wayne Long added to the pressure, telling reporters it was “time to go” for Trudeau, suggesting the party should prorogue Parliament and hold a leadership race to reset.
“Ms. Freeland has been Mr. Trudeau’s most trusted minister for a decade,” Poilievre said. “She knows him better than anyone, and she knows that he’s out of control.” He further urged NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to end the supply-and-confidence agreement that has kept the Liberals in power since 2021.
Trump’s Looming Trade Threat
Poilievre framed his call for a pre-inauguration election as essential to prepare Canada for the economic challenges Trump’s return could pose. Trump, who has referred to Trudeau dismissively as “governor of the great state of Canada,” has vowed to enact aggressive trade policies. Freeland’s warning about the need to “keep fiscal powder dry” signals growing anxiety about Canada’s ability to withstand a tariff war under Trump’s leadership.
Uncertain Fiscal Leadership
As of Monday afternoon, it remained unclear who would deliver the fall fiscal update, a critical document outlining Canada’s economic outlook. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, next in line, declined to confirm if he would table the statement. Edmonton MP Randy Boissonnault, who also appeared in the line of succession, resigned from cabinet last month amid controversy over false claims of Indigenous heritage.
Poilievre’s appeal for an election comes with sharp political framing. “I think the best Christmas present we could give Canadians is to let them choose a new common-sense Conservative government that will bring home Canada’s promise,” he said.
Whether Singh and the NDP will act to trigger an election remains unclear. However, with Liberal resignations mounting and Canada bracing for U.S. policy shifts under Trump, Trudeau’s leadership faces its most serious challenge to date.
As Poilievre stressed, time may be running short for Canada to stabilize its political and economic footing ahead of January’s global reset.
Sources:
- National Post: Report on Pierre Poilievre’s election call and Chrystia Freeland’s resignation
- Freeland’s resignation letter (via X/Twitter)
- Donald Trump campaign statements on tariffs and Canada-U.S. relations
- Public statements from MPs Chad Collins and Wayne Long
