‘Not Much Time To Think’: Canada PM Trudeau Hints At Quitting Politics After Political Setback

Canada’s outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that he will not be running in the upcoming elections in October and expressed uncertainty about his future after politics.

“In terms of my own decisions, I will not be running in the upcoming election,” Trudeau said during a press conference in Ottawa. The announcement came after a meeting with Canada’s provincial premiers, where they discussed strategies for addressing the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

Reflecting on his post-political future, Trudeau said, “As to what I might be doing later, I honestly haven’t had much time to think about that at all, I am entirely focused on doing the job that Canadians elected me to do in an extraordinarily pivotal time right now.”

Trudeau has been a Member of Parliament since 2008, representing the riding of Papineau in Quebec. He has been re-elected in every election since, most recently in 2021, when he won 50.3 per cent of the vote.

In Wednesday’s meeting with regional leaders, Trudeau discussed how to respond to possible US tariffs while still hoping to avoid a trade war. Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada, which economists warn could lead to a deep recession. Canada exports 75% of its goods and services to the United States.

Canada is the top export destination for 36 US states, with nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (around $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services crossing the border each day. Trudeau, who will step down as prime minister in early March, has promised countermeasures if Trump follows through with his threat and is seeking a united response from the federal government and all 10 provinces.