Your World Tonight - Justin Trudeau steps down, flu cases in Canada, and more

Episode Date: January 6, 2025

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now says he isn’t the best choice to lead the Liberals into the next election, and he will step down as soon as the party picks another leader. That leader will also automatically become prime minister. There are warnings the party constitution could leave the campaign open to foreign interference. Trudeau says his main regret from his time in office is not getting electoral reform done. Opposition leaders Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh say it’s time for a federal election. Several premiers have already signalled their biggest concern: that the federal government needs to keep its eye on relations with the U.S. Plus: Flu numbers are up in Canada, Elon Musk wades into UK politics, and more.

Struggling with debt? Help is available. Discover reliable solutions to help you get back on track. Visit Canada.ca slash debt dash solutions for support you can trust. A message from the Government of Canada. This is a CBC podcast. 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. No politician can get by without promises.

And when Justin Trudeau was first elected in 2015, it was all about sunny ways, promises that gave the federal liberals new life and a majority government. Big policies would follow in the Trudeau era, reforms that have left their mark on this country. But there were also scandals that left their mark on the liberals.

Now after nine years and three election wins, the prime Minister's party wants him out and today he's offering more than a promise. Justin Trudeau will resign as Liberal leader and Prime Minister. Welcome to Your World Tonight. It is Monday, January 6th, coming up on 6pm Eastern. I'm Susan Bonner. Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today. But what has really changed?

From the political fallout to what it means for the Prime Minister, his party and for Canada as it faces a U.S. administration that's just getting started. Justin Trudeau's decision to step down as Liberal leader. We have extensive coverage for you tonight and we begin on Parliament Hill with the CBC's Tom Perry. As you all know, I am a fighter and I am not someone who backs away from a fight. Particularly when a fight is as important as this one is. For Justin Trudeau, who for months resisted calls from his own MPs that he stepped down for the good of their party, the realization finally set in. This was a fight he could not win.

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 appeared today outside his home at Rideau cottage where he held daily briefings during the COVID pandemic to announce the end of a political era. After nearly a decade as Prime Minister, he's stepping down. I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process. Asked about his legacy, Trudeau says he's proud of his government's work on reconciliation and helping the middle class, his greatest regret, breaking his promise to bring in electoral reform.

For now, Trudeau says he's asked the governor general to prorogue parliament until March 24th. That will give the liberals time, though not much, to pick a new leader, but it will also be, Trudeau says, a much-needed break. Parliament has been entirely seized by obstruction and filibustering and a total lack of productivity. And it's time for a reset. But to Trudeau's opponents, the only real reset will come with an election. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, whose party propped up the liberals in this minority parliament,

says he and his MPs will vote to bring down the government at the earliest opportunity. New Democrats will be voting against this government for an election where Canadians will have a choice. It was the same message from Bloc Québécois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, who says Trudeau's departure doesn't change his view of this government. We are facing the same people with the same values, the same ideology, we have to go in elections. As for Conservative leader Pierre Poilier, who polls suggest is the overwhelming favourite to win the next election, he posted his reaction to today's news on social media. Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally

leaving. In the video, Poiliev lays out a long list of ways in which he says Trudeau and the Liberals have hurt Canada. A change at the top, he says, means nothing. For Liberals, though, the hope is this changes everything. That Trudeau's successor, whoever that may be, will be better placed to rescue the party from its dismal showing in the polls and potentially from political oblivion. Tom Perry, CBC News, Ottawa. There are plenty of questions about what happens now and a ton of reaction

tonight across the country. Cameron McIntosh on what some Canadians are saying about the Prime Minister's decision. Traffic flows through Osborne Village in the riding of Winnipeg South Centre, one of the few safe Liberal seats on the prairies. You'll still find Justin Trudeau supporters here like Katie Whitford. I'm sad. He's worked very hard and he's a fighter. But ask around. It's rapidly clear there's an urge for change. Even in a minus 36 windchill, people will stop to talk about it.

Like Kirk Kitzel. I think there's just this public discontent with the world in general. Winnipeg has four Liberal MPs. They'll all be in tough next election. That's true for Liberals across the country in traditionally safe places. the inner GTA where Mark Blackwell lost faith in Trudeau a while ago and isn't so sure about the Liberals anymore. I'm still undecided depending on who they actually pick.

Similar sentiments in Trudeau's hometown Montreal. Charles Louvkem wants change. Maybe he has done his time and maybe Canadians need to move on with another prime minister. In Halifax Trudeau became a deal-breaker for Mike Strickland. I just couldn't bring myself to vote for the Liberals this year just because of him. Across Alberta and Saskatchewan anyone named Trudeau was always going to be a tough sell. Modest gains in the 2015 election mostly withered away as Trudeau clashed with Western premiers on numerous issues including the carbon tax and energy policy.

In Calgary, Rick Borger is looking forward to an election. It can't come too soon. While Liberal supporters like Jill Hartman say Trudeau held on far too long. He's kind of left the party in a bit of a shambles, I think. Much of rural Canada felt alienated by Trudeau. Carl Krebs is a truck driver and political activist in Winkler about 120 kilometers south of Winnipeg who says Trudeau is hurting the country by staying on until a new liberal leader is picked. I think this is just another example of a selfish politician desperately hanging on to

control. Back in Winnipeg south centre, Ben Carr, the sitting Liberal MP, concedes when an election does come, it will be tough for Liberal incumbents. I certainly don't deny the fact that it will be a challenging race. His seat? Not so safe anymore. Cameron McIntosh, CBC News, Winnipeg. The Liberal Party has a lot to do before Parliament returns at the end of March. By then, it should have a new leader in Canada, a new Prime Minister. But to get there, it will have to hold a leadership race in a condensed timeline with a federal

election looming. Marina von Stakelberg has more on the race and the potential candidates. Today is day one of the Liberal Party's rebirth and rebuild. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation is late but welcome news to many members of his own caucus. Like New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, he said Trudeau needed to go since the summer. BC Liberal MP Ken Hardy says he hopes a replacement is figured out soon. A long process to select a new leader leaves a lot of things in limbo. The Liberal Party says the process to find a new leader will begin this week, but it could take

months. And with looming confidence votes, whoever gets the job will likely be plunged into an election campaign soon after. So far no one has officially put their name forward for leadership but plenty of names are circulating. Good afternoon everyone. Like former Finance Minister Krisha Freeland, her bombshell decision to quit last month hours before she was set to deliver a budget update rocked the party. A Liberal source told Radio Canada that Trudeau was planning to replace Freeland with former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. Thank you all for coming.

Carney is someone the Liberals have been trying to court for over a decade. He recently became a special advisor for them. And a source tells CBC News since Boxing Day, Carney has been making and taking calls from dozens of Liberal MPs about potentially running. Hello everyone. Former BC Premier Christy Clark is another possible contender. Plus a number of prominent cabinet ministers could look to run, including Finance Minister Dominique LeBlanc, Minister

of Transport Anita Onand and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie. We're not in a normal situation. Laura Stevenson, a professor of political science at Western University, says the Liberal Party will likely come up with a shortened timeframe for a leadership campaign. Trudeau had been saying for months that he was going to lead the party into the next election. He didn't step down. He didn't make way for a more kind of peaceful or organized transition. As for who can choose the new leader and therefore the Prime Minister, that will be voted on by Liberal Party members.

Unlike the Conservatives, the Liberals don't require a fee to join or for a member to even be a Canadian citizen. It's a process that has been questioned at the inquiry into foreign interference as a potential gateway to election meddling. There will be a lot of eyes on trying to ensure that there isn't interference going on because the last thing that they want is to have that as another element, right,

to be worried about. The Liberals have said making membership free and open has helped bring more people into the political fold. So far the party has made no indication it plans to change that when it picks its new leader. Marina von Stackelberg, CBC News, Ottawa. Coming up on the podcast, will Trudeau's exit affect Donald Trump's plans for tariffs and what's ahead for the Liberal Party, plus a political feud between Elon Musk and Britain's PM?

Justin Trudeau's announcement lands just two weeks before Donald Trump is sworn in as US President. It's a complicated time. Trump is already threatening tariffs and trolling Canada on social media. And a gaping hole in leadership could make things messier. Paul Hunter brings us the view from Washington. Stand by for just a second. We knew that this was coming. The Prime Minister of Canada, we are expecting to hear him say the words that he quits. He's resigning. Let's watch. I advise the Governor General.

On Fox News Across America, word that Justin Trudeau was stepping aside brought headlines and mockery. He's been Canada last in terms of policies. That's Kat Kamak, a Republican lawmaker from Florida who happened to be on the air as Trudeau made his announcement and who Quickly gave this version of what Trudeau said to Donald Trump at that dinner They had at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort shortly after the US election I think he sat down across the table from president-elect Donald Trump and said, you know I don't think I'm qualified to handle this and I think that that's why we're seeing him exit stage left. If nothing else, it underlines the view of Trudeau from certain Republicans.

The bigger question now is what does the end of Trudeau mean to Trump himself? A wide range of issues from critical minerals to energy trade. Chris Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, emphasizes the biggie is Trump's threat to quickly order steep tariffs on goods from Canada into the U.S. unless, among other things, Canada steps up security on the Canada-U.S. border, something it now pledges. President Trump says Sands wants to act quickly. Will Canada have somebody in a position to negotiate

if the executive order is going to start a conversation about how to do anything, or will Canada be spinning its wheels with at best a caretaker situation? And I think from an American point of view, the agenda is pressing. We're getting going. The sooner that Canada is able to establish a new leader, the better. God forbid President-elect Trump gets in there and puts tariffs.

We have to retaliate. We have to retaliate hard. Without mentioning Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford today telling reporters his focus is on that tariff threat, while also pushing back on Trump's supposedly tongue-in-cheek suggestion Canada ought to be the 51st state, even today.

On his truth social site Trump wrote quote if Canada merged with the US there would be no tariffs together what a great nation it would be. To the president I'll make him a counteroffer how about if we buy Alaska and we'll throw in Minnesota Minneapolis at the same time so you know it's not realistic. Ford was joking presumably so to Trump but all of it. And now with Trudeau's announcement underlining the days ahead will be a challenge for both countries. Paul Hunter, CBC News, Washington. For more on some of the turmoil Canadians can expect in the

coming months, I'm joined by Catherine Cullen, host of CBC Radio's The House. Catherine, so many Liberal MPs wanted Justin Trudeau to go. Will they be satisfied with his announcement? Susan, I've heard everything from sadness and sympathy for the Prime Minister to one MP who told me they're feeling great that Trudeau is finally leaving. A couple of MPs expressed to me concern that he is staying on until a new leader is chosen with one telling me he believes that the Prime Minister is still at the helm and that means that the party is being damaged in the polls every day that that continues. At the same time this MP said he'll live with it, he doesn't really have much of a choice. Now it's not clear how many

members of caucus feel that way but it does speak to the incredible arc of Justin Trudeau's political career. He revived the Liberal Party when it looked like it might be on its deathbed. In 2015, he took them from third place to a majority government and this huge wave of enthusiasm with his pledge of sunny ways. But he's also the one who took his party down to some dramatic lows in polling that we have been seeing for months now. It's very much unclear whether his successor will be able to turn that around.

And as the Liberal Party tries to rebuild itself, it will face many challenges, outline some for us. Well, certainly many of the people who want to run were in his cabinet, so there's going to be a real challenge in arguing that they represent a change from Justin Trudeau. If they present a new vision, they will be asked why they spent years backing his vision. There's also the question of whether they can remain cabinet ministers during the race if they are not allowed to or choose to focus on the race. That's a big chunk of Justin Trudeau's cabinet.

We're talking people who are considering running in the race, his finance minister, his foreign affairs minister, industry, transport, natural resources, house leader, all rumored to have leadership ambitions or at least thinking about it right now. Now, they're probably not all going to run, but still this could be a big chunk of his front bench and the party needs to do all of this incredibly quickly. It's going to be a logistical challenge to pull that off. There's also this question of the potential for foreign interference or even just special interests and the role that that could play in this race. The Liberal

Party has a very open process. You don't even have to be a Canadian citizen. You can be as young as 14 to vote. That does open the door to all kinds of folks coming in and this is ultimately to choose Canada's next Prime Minister. Now, the Liberals want a bounce in the polls out of this. They want to drum up some enthusiasm that's tougher in a shorter race, which they're obviously going to need. There's also the danger of party infighting and all of this happening with the specter of Donald Trump's tariffs hanging over the country. Susan, we're just beginning 2025. It's already pretty clear that political uncertainty and intensity are going to be hallmarks of this year.

Thank you, Catherine. Thank you. Catherine Cullen is the host of CBC Radio's The House. She's in Ottawa. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the White House wants to see a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before the end of Joe Biden's term. Blinken is in South Korea this week and took time to answer questions about a potential deal.

What we've seen in the last couple of weeks is a re-intensified engagement, including by Hamas, but we have yet to see agreement on the final points. So what I can tell you is this. We very much want to bring this over the finish line in the next two weeks, the time that we have remaining. And we will work every minute of every day of those two weeks to try to get that to happen. Israel has sent officials to Qatar for talks brokered by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has said the two sides must reach a deal before his inauguration.

It's not clear what his response will be if they do not. The votes for president of the United States are as follows. Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes. Kamala D. Harris. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at Congress today certifying Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election. It paves the way for Trump's inauguration on January 20th. Harris is one of the few presidential candidates who've had to certify the win of their rival. She said it was part of her oath to defend the Constitution of the country. Today was obviously a very important day,

and it was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power. Exactly four years ago, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to block the certification of then-president-elect Joe Biden. A war of words is brewing between Elon Musk and the British Prime Minister, the latest foray by the tech billionaire into European politics. Musk is using his social media platform X to unleash scathing criticism of Keir Starmer

and his government, accusing them of going soft on criminals who sexually exploited children. Chris Brown reports. Thank you. On the question of Elon Musk, Keir Starmer wanted to focus on improving British healthcare, but there was no way for him to avoid addressing Elon Musk's latest broadside. In a social media post, the world's richest man and a key Donald Trump confidant questioned whether it was time for America to liberate Britons from their tyrannical government. We've seen this playbook many times, whipping up of intimidation and threats of violence,

hoping that the media will amplify it. Starmer appeared to be referencing Musk's ongoing smears against him and his cabinet minister Jess Phillips. Before he was PM, Starmer headed the UK's public prosecution service, during which time several thousand girls were victimized by mostly British Pakistani gangs and sexually exploited. Subsequent inquiries determined local authorities often failed to properly investigate, partially out of fear of being seen as racist.

After Phillips, the current Minister for Women's safety rejected calls for a new inquiry Musk weighed in. He called her a rape genocide apologist who should be in jail alongside Starmor. Starmor defended his own efforts at bringing a record number of such cases to trial and Phillips for being a dogged advocate for abused women. When the poison of the far right leads to serious threats to Jess Phillips and others, then in my book a line has been crossed. In all my years of following British politics I can't remember an incident like this. Political scientist Tim Bale says Musk appears to have a hate on for Labour's left-of-center administration. He's trying to disrupt the so-called

special relationship if you like between the UK or at least this government of the UK and the incoming Trump administration. Musk has criticized other left-of-center administrations in Europe too, particularly Germany where he has publicly endorsed the far- right in upcoming elections. Today, without directly mentioning Musk's name, France's President Emmanuel Macron urged democracies to be vigilant. He accused Musk of backing

a new international reactionary movement. For Starmer, criticizing Musk comes with risks. With Trump poised to take over and with Musk as one of his most influential advisors, the worry is offending him could turn the incoming U.S. president against Britain as well. Chris Brown, CBC News, London. President Joe Biden is moving to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters. It would protect the coastlines of California, Florida and other states from future exploration. It does not affect large swaths of the Gulf of Mexico where most of the country's offshore

drilling takes place. Incoming President Donald Trump has already said he will reverse Biden's plan. A patient with the H5N1 bird flu has died in Louisiana. It is the first human death from the virus in the U.S. The patient was over 65 and had underlying medical conditions. They contracted the flu after exposure to wild birds and a backyard flock. In a statement, the Health Department says there's no sign that anyone else contracted the disease. It was the only known case of H5N1 in the disease. It was the only known case of H5N1 in the state. If the togetherness of the season spread more than holiday cheer to your corner,

you are not alone. Canada's latest respiratory illness report shows the flu and RSV are on the rise with hot spots in a few particular provinces. Health reporter Jennifer Yoon has more. A packed emergency waiting room, stretchers in the hallway and people waiting hours to get care. Flu season is officially here and at Humber River Health's emergency department in Toronto, ER physician Dr. Wendy Lai is trying to help as many people as she can.

Everyone's ill, old and young and what I've seen is quite a range of illness frankly from illnesses including influenza, COVID and RSV. The latest numbers from the Public Health Agency of Canada show a steep and exponential rise in the number of positive RSV and flu tests across the country. Respiratory syncytial virus numbers are high in Quebec. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are also hit hard by RSV and flu. A double whammy that's straining the healthcare system says infectious disease specialist Dr. Lenora Saxinger who works at Edmonton's University of Alberta Hospital.

It's always unfortunate when influenza and RSV go in lockstep because that usually results in more hospitalizations for both adults with Flu A and kids with RSV or Flu A. Outside hospitals, retirement homes and senior centers are being hit hard by respiratory viruses, says Laura Tamblyn-Watz, who runs a national seniors advocacy organization called CanAge. Not only are seniors sick, but their care supporters are also sick. She says many seniors didn't get their flu vaccines because they wanted more information about a high-dose shot recommended for those 65 and up and limited in availability in some parts of Canada. What we have is a ticking time bomb. If you're an older person or someone immune compromised,

these illnesses are often a matter of life and death. And the peak of the respiratory virus season may still be to come, says Dr. Matthew Outen, an infectious disease specialist at the McGill University Health Center. This week and next week, following the big holiday time of people spending lots of time together indoors, especially with the major snap and cold weather that we've had, it's quite likely that we will see further increases of the viruses that we were already seeing in this first half of January. Whether the respiratory virus season will be as severe as in the past few years remains to be seen. Outen is urging people who are sick to stay at home to avoid the strain on hospitals.

Jennifer Yoon, CBC News, Montreal. Finally it's branching out from the usual send-off for a holiday centerpiece saying goodbye to Christmas trees by turning them into season's eatings. They adore them. They eat them like it's like they're piranhas. They attack it, they make funny sounds, they're like all the way through it. It's absolutely lovely to watch them. They really lose their minds. Jennifer Madore says the trees are a tasty treat for goats. Crunchy, high in fiber, a natural dewormer, while leaving their breath pine needle fresh.

It's become an annual tradition for the Luskville, Quebec resident, rounding up trees and driving them to a nearby goat farm. Stan Kane says rather than kick his tree to the curb, giving it to the herd is more eco-friendly. You know, the trees are produced in Quebec. When we're finished with the tree it goes off to the goats thanks to Jennifer. Goes off to the goats, they eat it, the droppings go back to the ground. That's a pretty damn good example of

circular economy. What started with just Madore donating her own tree has now taken off. She expects to collect and deliver up to 80 this year. Neighbors hungry for an alternative to trashing their trees, and goats happy to feast on the holiday leftovers. Thanks for joining us. This has been Your World Tonight for Monday, January 6th. I'm Susan Bonner. have a good evening.