His ratings down, Canada PM Justin Trudeau announces resignation, opens a window to reset ties From New Delhi’s perspective, Trudeau’s time was up and the assessment, going by opinion polls, was that he would have possibly lost the elections after being in office for 10 years — he became the Liberal Party’s leader in 2013 and PM in 2015.:-The Indian Express

 

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his resignation in Ottawa on Monday. (AP)

Facing loss of support within his party and low popularity in polls, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he will resign as party leader and PM, but will stay on as the PM until the Liberal Party chooses a new leader.

On Trudeau’s request, Governor General Mary Simon agreed to prorogue Parliament until March 24. This will give the Liberal Party time to hold a shortened leadership contest.

From New Delhi’s perspective, Trudeau’s time was up and the assessment, going by opinion polls, was that he would have possibly lost the elections after being in office for 10 years — he became the Liberal Party’s leader in 2013 and PM in 2015.

Trudeau is seen as someone who has taken a “scorched earth policy” in terms of India-Canada ties, especially after his allegation in September 2023 that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

elhi has rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd” and “politically motivated”, and accused his government of sheltering terrorists.

This has led to a downslide in ties — to unprecedented levels, comparable only to India’s ties with Pakistan and China. Dozens of diplomats have been expelled, including High Commissioners, visas have been impacted, no new project is being implemented, and trade has been crippled in the last year-and-half.

With Trudeau’s departure, some view it as a time and opportunity to repair the damage done in the last year-and-half.

While the leadership race is open ahead of the Canadian elections which should be held by June this year, some have already thrown their hat in the ring including former Canada Bank Governor Mark Carney and former Dy PM and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Transportation Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc are also possible contenders.

According to polls, Liberals are widely expected to lose after 10 years in office, and Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre are expected to come to power.

With Trudeau gone, the temperature might be a bit lower in India-Canada ties — the acrimony and the sharp anti-India public statements and political rhetoric is expected to tone down a bit.But Trudeau having made statements to the Canadian parliament — he first made the allegation on the floor of the House — it shrinks the space for his party successor — or from the Opposition if Poilievre were to become the next PM — in a situation where they will find it extremely difficult to walk back. The Liberals, once in Opposition, will try to portray the Conservatives as a sell-out if they walk back. That’s the major apprehension in Delhi.

Although Delhi has had communication channels open with other leaders of the Opposition and Liberal party, this scorched earth policy that Trudeau adopted in the last few years has queered the pitch in a fundamental way.But a change in the leadership is expected to give a chance to “stabilise” ties. Efforts will be on to manage the current state of ties, although the Canadian judicial process and the investigations by law enforcement agencies will continue — and their outcomes and findings will shape some of the discourse in the months and years to come.