Hamilton Liberal MP Tassi 'proud' of work with Trudeau, shares hopes for next party leader

The next Liberal leader should be someone "who can connect with people inside the [party], across the aisle in Parliament" and with people across Canada, says Filomena Tassi, a Liberal member of Parliament for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas.

Her comments come after Justin Trudeau announced Monday morning he'll be stepping down as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party as soon as a new person is elected to replace him. 

"This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election," Trudeau said during a news conference outside Rideau Cottage — his official residence.

See Trudeau's full speech announcing he's stepping down as Liberal leader

1 day ago

Duration 7:19

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is stepping down as Liberal leader. Trudeau says he asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

Tassi 'very proud' of local accomplishments with Trudeau's support

Trudeau became the party leader in 2013 and prime minister in the fall of 2015. Tassi was also elected in 2015, making her the first Liberal elected to federal office in Hamilton since 2004. 

Tassi, who is also minister of the Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, told CBC Hamilton in an email Monday afternoon she's "very proud" of the federal government's local investments throughout Trudeau's tenure, naming the development of the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre, investments in housing, research, and light-rail transit, among other examples. 

She also said Trudeau's announcement won't change her decision to not run for re-election, which she had shared in October, citing "deeply personal" reasons and wanting to "be closer to home" with family.

She expressed her support for the prime minister, saying, "I believed in him in 2015 and I believe in him now."

On Monday, Tassi said in a post to social media site X it's been "the honour of a lifetime to serve Canadians" with Trudeau.

Tassi did not throw her support behind anyone specifically, but said in her statement to CBC Hamilton she knows "a number of qualified people will put their name forward."

Burlington MP Gould encouraged to run for leadership: advisers

CBC Hamilton reached out to other Liberal members of parliament in the area for comment, including Chad Collins, Lisa Hepfner, Karina Gould, Chris Bittle, and Vance Badawey, but did not hear back before publication.

Monday afternoon, Hepfner, MP for Hamilton Mountain, thanked Trudeau in a post to X for his "years of service to this country."

Some Liberal MPs and party members are encouraging Gould, a Burlington MP and government House Leader, to run as party leader, two of her advisers told CBC News. 

Gould did not answer CBC Hamilton's questions , but posted to X on Tuesday thanking Trudeau for his service. 

Former Liberal MP and environment minister Catherine McKenna, who is from Hamilton, said on LinkedIn that Trudeau made the right choice by promising to resign. She also noted some of his achievements including leading the Liberal Party to power in 2015. 

"It's emotional to watch the prime minister announce that he is stepping down," the former Ottawa MP wrote. 

"He brought the Liberal Party from 3rd place to government, and Canada is better off for it ... The prime minister deserves thanks for his service to our country."

Meanwhile, not all Liberals in the area have voiced support for Trudeau.

Collins, who represents Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, was one of 24 MPs who signed an agreement in October, calling on Trudeau to step down as leader. 

In December, Collins reiterated the call following former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland's resignation from cabinet. 

"It's obvious that Canadians across the country feel the same and want him to leave," Collins said in a statement Dec. 16.