Windsorites welcome Trudeau's decision to resign, as local MP urges unity ahead of next federal election
Desmond Brown | CBC News | Posted: January 6, 2025 10:55 PM | Last Updated: January 7
PM says he plans to step down once the Liberal Party has chosen a successor
People in Windsor-Essex on Monday reacted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement that he plans to step down once the Liberal Party has chosen a successor, with one resident saying "he's done the right thing."
Meanwhile, the region's Liberal MP called for unity in his party ahead of the next federal election.
Trudeau, who became Liberal leader in 2013 and prime minister in the fall of 2015, announced his decision outside his official residence, Rideau Cottage, on Monday morning.
He told reporters that the country "deserves a real choice in the next election," adding that it's become clear that if he's having to fight internal battles, he cannot be the best option in that election.
Daut Said, a student at St. Clair College, welcomed the announcement.
"I think it's exciting news because realistically, in this day and age, everything is just getting expensive, cost of living, all that kind of stuff," he told CBC News.
"So, I feel like him resigning can give a new sense of hope in knowing that you don't have to worry about him in the election."
Said says he's also excited to see who will emerge as the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
"Hopefully it's someone that is reliable," who will stand up for people on "issues like the housing crisis that's going on," he said.
'It was time for a new leader:' Some Windsorites pleased to see Trudeau step down
Another Windsor resident, Liz Pisani, says "it's about time he resigns."
Canadians "need an election … because of how things are going," Pisani said.
She pointed to the carbon tax as one of the main issues for her, adding that while she's voted Liberal in the past and "really liked Trudeau," she's voting Conservative this time around.
David Splett and Brenda-Jayne Splett, both visiting from Vancouver, said "it was time for a new leader" of the Liberal Party.
"You're seeing a 25 per cent gap between the Conservatives and the Liberals and he's got to leave because they will end up becoming a fourth place party if he stays in place. It's just not good," said David.
With U.S. president-elect Donald Trump set to officially take office in exactly two weeks, Brenda-Jayne says she's concerned about his tariff threat.
"I want to see our relationship with the United States continue to be great, and I just don't see that," she said.
"I'm looking forward to our economy growing again, our resource industry and people having hope and a future, and us also realizing we have a massive debt that we're going to have to pay off.
"It's time for change and it's too late for the Liberals," she added.
Trump has promised to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all goods entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico on Jan. 20, his first day in office, unless countries curb the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders.
Douglas Weeks said Trudeau's decision to step down was a good one.
"I think that he's made the best decision. There was a lot of conflict within the party, there was a lot of animosity, and it wasn't getting us anywhere as a country" he said.
"He saw the writing on the wall long ago. I think he was also just being stubborn. It's hard to accept defeat, and I think in a way he was feeling that it's defeat."
Weeks is hopeful that whoever emerges as the new leader of the Liberal Party will also become the country's next prime minister.
Windsor — Tecumseh Liberal MP calls for 'resolution, clarity' and unity
Irek Kusmierczyk, the Liberal MP for Windsor—Tecumseh, said Trudeau's announcement has left him with "mixed emotions" having worked "hand-in-hand" with the prime minister to secure federal dollars for the region.
"There's no community that has received more federal funding in Canada than Tecumseh and Windsor-Essex — over $16 billion," Kusmierczyk told CBC News.
He said that investment includes the NextStar EV battery plant, as well as the Gordie Howe International Bridge — with the latter providing employment for 13,000 people during construction.
Additionally, Kusmierczyk said policies put forward by the Trudeau government "are making a huge impact in our community, whether it's child care — the fact that it's saving moms and dads in the region about $10,000 a year — dental care, obviously 15,000 seniors getting dental care, often for the first time in their lives."
Kusmierczyk, who said he will be seeking re-election when the next federal election is announced, said his message to the prime minister and Liberal caucus is, "we need resolution, we need clarity, we need to move forward united as quickly as possible because Canadians are depending on us and we have some serious fights that we have to fight and contend with right away."
He called the next federal election "the most consequential election in the last 50 years of Canada."
Chris Lewis, the Conservative MP for Essex, did not respond to a request for an interview, but a spokesperson said Lewis supports the statement released by Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre on social media.
In the statement, Poilievre said while "Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving," the country needs an election.