Canada's Liberal Party in search of a new leader while dealing with Trump threats, pending election

TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party finds itself in search of a new leader while dealing with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threats to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods and with Canada's election just months away.

Trudeau announced his resignation after facing an increasing loss of support both within his party and in the country. The 53-year-old scion of Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada's most famous prime ministers, became deeply unpopular with voters over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing as well as surging immigration.

What's next for Canada?

Trudeau said he plans to stay on as prime minister until a new party leader is chosen, but a new Canadian leader is unlikely to be named before Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20.

The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada. Trump keeps calling Canada the 51st state and has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian good s. He is preoccupied with the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, erroneously calling it a subsidy.

Trump said Tuesday he would not use the military to force Canada to join the U.S., but would rely on ''economic force.'' If Trump applies tariffs, a trade war looms and Canada has vowed to retaliate.

''There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States,'' Trudeau posted on X. ''Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other's biggest trading and security partner.''

When will there be a new prime minister?

The Liberals need to elect a new leader before Parliament resumes March 24 because all three opposition parties say they will bring down the Liberal government in a no-confidence vote at the first opportunity, which would trigger an election.

The new leader might not be prime minister for long: A spring election would very likely favor the opposing Conservative Party.

Who will be the next leader of Trudeau's party?

It's not often that central bank governors get compared to rock stars. But potential Liberal leader Mark Carney, the former head of the Bank of Canada, was considered just that in 2012. He was named the first foreigner to serve as governor of the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. The appointment of a Canadian won bipartisan praise in Britain after Canada recovered faster than many other countries from the 2008 financial crisis. He gained a reputation along the way as a tough regulator.

Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland is also a front-runner. Trudeau told Freeland last month he no longer wanted her to serve in that position but that she could remain deputy prime minister and the point person for U.S.-Canada relations. An official close to Freeland said she couldn't continue serving as a minister knowing she no longer enjoyed Trudeau's confidence. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The person added it's far too early to make declarations but said Freeland would talk to her colleagues this week and discuss next steps.

After she resigned, Trump called Freeland ''totally toxic" and "not at all conducive to making deals." Freeland is many things that would seem to irritate Trump: a liberal Canadian former journalist. She is a globalist who sits on the board of the World Economic Forum. Freeland, who is of Ukrainian heritage, also has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Another possible candidate is the new finance minister, Dominic LeBlanc. The former public safety minister, and a close friend of Trudeau, LeBlanc recently joined the prime minister at a dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. LeBlanc was Trudeau's babysitter when Trudeau was a child.

Is it too late for the Liberals?

Recent polls suggest the Liberals' chances of winning the next election look slim. In the latest poll by Nanos, the Liberals trail the opposition Conservatives 45% to 23%.

''Moreover, because Trudeau waited so long to announce his resignation, this will leave little time to his successor and the party to prepare for early elections,'' Béland said.