Danielle Smith calls for election following Trudeau resignation
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling for an election after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday morning that he will be stepping down as prime minister and Liberal Party leader.
In a statement posted to X, Smith said Canadians deserve a federal government with a clear mandate to negotiate with the incoming US president and his administration on what she described as one of the “most important international negotiations we have ever faced as a country.”
At this critical time, Canadians need and deserve a prime minister and federal government with a clear mandate won from the Canadian people to negotiate with the incoming U.S. President and his administration on one of the most important international negotiations we have ever… pic.twitter.com/qTyKxmzyj1
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) January 6, 2025
Smith suggested the Liberal Party does not have a mandate from Canadians and is prioritizing its own interests over the country’s by “paralyzing Parliament and suspending democracy for months while they fight a divisive internal leadership contest.”
She referred to the situation as “one of the most irresponsible and selfish acts of a government in Canadian history.”
Smith called on all federal parties and MPs to push for an election at the first available opportunity, allowing Canadians to choose a party and leader to represent their interests during a critical time.
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The premier reiterated her calls for an election on Fox Business Monday morning, saying she believes Canadians have grown tired of “wokeism, extreme environmentalism, and the punitive approach” to industries such as mining and oil and gas, which she argues have made life less affordable.
“I would like to see a new prime minister chosen so that we would have a four-year mandate,” Smith said.
“We need to be able to have somebody who has the credibility of a four-year mandate behind them as we get into these really difficult conversations about tariffs.”
This morning, I joined @TheBigMoneyShow on @FoxBusiness to discuss Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau‘s recent announcement and what this means for Canada.
Our country needs a Prime Minister and a government with a four-year mandate to address Canadians’ needs and effectively… pic.twitter.com/PqXySrPRqX
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) January 6, 2025
Trudeau said Governor General Mary Simon granted his request for the House of Commons to be prorogued until March 24. He has also asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin the process of selecting its next leader.
Trudeau announced his resignation Monday morning outside of Rideau Cottage, where he had lived for years since becoming prime minister.
Federal party leaders, including NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, posted statements on X shortly after the prime minister’s announcement.
Singh said regardless of who leads the Liberals, they “don’t deserve another chance.”
“If you oppose callous Conservative cuts; if you oppose the rich getting richer while everyone else falls further behind — stand with the NDP this time,” reads the post.
Meanwhile, Poilievre is continuing his push for a “carbon tax election.”
With files from Isabelle Docto