Fanshawe reacts to the resignation of Justin Trudeau

A photo of Justin Trudeau speaking with a person on a sidewalk. CREDIT: GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
Fanshawe students did not seem shocked or upset by the news of Justin Trudeau’s resignation.

Justin Trudeau resigned earlier this month, saying he will be stepping down when a new Liberal leader is chosen.

After almost 10 years of being Canada’s Prime Minister, the resignation seemed to receive an unsurprised response from Canadians.

“This has happened before. It will happen again,” said Canadian Politics Professor, Glen Morgan. “Eventually, a leader gets unpopular. Politicians or governments age like milk as opposed to wine.”

Navigator. Londons student lifestyles magazine.

 

Fanshawe students did not seem shocked or upset to see Trudeau’s resignation.

“I think it was about time he did it, him resigning was probably the best thing he could do,” Fanshawe student, Dany Hernandez said. “I mean, he was going into a losing election battle and Canadians have made it evident that they want him gone, so it’s probably for the best.”

Other Fanshawe students now have renewed hopes for Canada’s future economy.

“I think it was a good decision for him to step down. Every opposition party did not trust him,” Fanshawe student, Alex Lafleur, said. “Even Jagmeet Singh, who was once great friends with Trudeau, wanted him to resign…most people wanted him gone as well. I don’t think Trudeau was the worst but at this time for Canada’s benefit, Trudeau stepping down was necessary for Canada to grow.”

Some students are hoping this will aid the Liberals with the upcoming election.

“Justin Trudeau stepping down was a smart move by the Liberal Party and [Trudeau] himself. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Trudeau’s ratings have rapidly fallen. There isn’t a lot of love for our current Prime Minister,” Fanshawe student, Ben Crossett said. “Stepping down gives the Liberal Party a chance to regroup and find a new candidate that can help the party succeed.”

Morgan, meanwhile, doesn’t believe this resignation and change of leadership will change the results of the upcoming election.

“The Liberals were on route to losing the next election anyway, and I don’t think his resignation or replacement by whoever it is, is going to make a huge difference,” Morgan added. “I think the problem right now for Canada is just the sense of timing. This would have been much better in terms of the degree of chaos, had it happened back in the summer.”

The next federal elections are expected to come early, which Morgan said will not give the new Prime Minister enough time to sway voters back to the Liberal side, while also creating a leadership reputation for themselves.

 “We are going to have a new leader come in and we are going to be at the polls no later than April. So that’s just really not enough time,” Morgan continued. “A new leader may inject some life back into the Liberals, but anytime a leader switches, they generally lose the first election. It’s pretty rare for a new leader to come in and win.”