Ottawa – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that in his farewell speech to liberals, freedom, democracy and Canada were “not given”.
This is a threat from US President Donald Trump to threaten Canada’s economic annexation and impose tariffs on Canadian imports into the United States.
“It’s a moment of definition. Democracy is not given. Freedom, it’s not given. Canada is not given. None of this happens by chance. None of them will try to continue,” Trudeau said.
“It takes courage, sacrifice, hope and hard work.”
Trudeau, during his nearly ten-year tenure as prime minister, renegotiated with Canada’s most important free trade agreement through the global pandemic and renegotiated with Canada’s most important free trade agreement after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It is this ability to cope with the crisis, as cabinet colleagues and participants at the meeting said that reviewing Trudeau’s legacy will stand out.
“I’ve been looking back on the past decade and we’ve been working together, which is remarkable. Innovation Minister Francis Philippe Champagne said we went from a financial crisis to a joint crisis to a major challenge for Canada.”
“I think history is kind to him as someone who stands up in Canada because it provides excellent leadership during very difficult times in Canada.”
Marc Miller, immigration minister for Trur’s multiple personal friends, said the outgoing prime minister is more focused on reconciliation than any of his predecessors.
“There are some criticisms, but he will be remembered as the guy who really, really, really accelerates reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples,” Miller said.
Tina Noel, a retired history teacher in Ottawa Valley, said at Sunday’s convention that after a challenging period for Trudeau’s resignation, he was leaving.
“He kind of dragged on a few times in the day and his leadership was questioned. But when the push push, Justin stood up and people were surprised at the end,” she said.
These challenges led Trudeau to lead the Liberals in his final months as New Brunswick’s Wayne has long urged Trudeau to resign as a backstage MP.
Still, Long said he thinks Trudeau’s history will be well judged.
“Canadian child welfare, dental care, ($10 a day) child care plans, a massive investment in housing, marijuana, and I think the biggest list of hits for all of these places that make Canada better,” Long said.
“I believe that in seven years, eight and nine years, he was surrounded by fewer and fewer people. He was less willing to hear from others. We felt it in the core group.”
Long said he felt the government’s “moralization” position as Canadians, and it’s time to turn the page.
The new page will end consumer carbon prices, a signature policy for the Trudeau government. Carney has promised to remove it.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre made carbon prices central Salvo in an attack on government records and won a 20-point lead in the polls.
Trudeau resigned as finance minister on December 16, 2024, and he faced leadership problems before she was set as the main economic statement.
On January 6, Trudeau resigned, saying that the internal party’s battle was a distraction to good governance. His expectations killed multiple bills and blocked a vote of confidence that could bring elections to the country.
His daughter Ella Grace Trudeau introduced the Prime Minister on Sunday, before giving his final speech as a liberal leader.
“I’m going to say, I look forward to seeing him more at home and rarely see him online, but I’ll never trade for anything in the past few years. Dad, I’m proud of you,” she said.
Trudeau did not talk about his record too much in his farewell speech, but focused on the future of the party.
However, he nodded to the challenges Canada faced over the past decade, including the 19th pandemic and said he was confident that Canada will stand out from this latest survival challenge.
“Canadians have shown who they are. We pull together. Whenever we get stronger, we stand up to each other,” Trudeau said.
Now, the liberals are ready for the first election in a decade, without Trudeau at the helm, he says you should never count the liberals.
“You still remember we had only 35 seats 15 years ago. You still remember our ups and downs and all the times when people cleared us, and they kept saying our party was always breathing,” Trudeau told the crowd.
“Like all Canadians, our liberals show our true courage when you try to figure out us.”
Trudeau has spoken about his time in the office coming to an end in recent days, but he has been focusing on his work and serving Canadians.
Miller said that while he didn’t say the next step, Trudeau was in a good place.
“He’s in a good space and he’s really eager to find the next chapter of what he’s going to do. I think he’s actually going to take some time to try and relax,” Miller said.
“But we will see him again, playing him trying to fight for his ideals and fight for Canadians.”
This report by Canadian media was first released on March 9, 2025.
David Baxter of Canada Press
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s free leadership announcement in Ottawa on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
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