Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on January 6, 2025, after nearly a decade in office. He will continue to serve until the Liberal Party selects a new leader.
Trudeau’s decision follows declining public support and internal conflicts within his party. Recent polls indicated that the Liberal Party was trailing behind the opposition Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, ahead of the upcoming general election.
In his resignation speech, Trudeau cited internal battles and a desire to act in Canada’s best interest as reasons for his departure. He emphasized the need for a fresh start and genuine choice for Canadians in the next election.
The Liberal Party will hold a leadership race to determine Trudeau’s successor, with potential candidates including former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and current Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc. Parliament has been suspended until March 24 to facilitate the leadership.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau implemented several initiatives to support Black communities in Canada, focusing on addressing systemic racism and promoting inclusivity.
In 2018, Canada endorsed the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024), committing to recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by Black Canadians. In February 2024, Trudeau announced an extension of Canada’s efforts under this framework until 2028, with transformative investments totaling $860 million committed to Black-focused initiatives, ranging from racial justice to entrepreneurship to economic dignity.
A significant component of this commitment is the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI), launched in 2019. This program has invested over $175 million to empower Black-led and Black-serving community organizations, promoting inclusiveness and capacity building. Budget 2023 proposed an additional $25 million for 2024–2025, extending the program and bringing the total commitment to $200 million.
Recognizing the need to address systemic discrimination, the government introduced Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy (2019–2022), investing nearly $100 million to combat racism and discrimination. This strategy included the establishment of an Anti-Racism Secretariat to lead a whole-of-government approach in addressing racism.
Additionally, the development of Canada’s Black Justice Strategy aims to address the overrepresentation of Black individuals in the criminal justice system. This strategy is being developed in consultation with Black communities across Canada, ensuring it reflects the diversity of experiences and regional realities of Black Canadians.
Through these initiatives, Trudeau’s government sought to create a more equitable and inclusive society by addressing systemic barriers and supporting the advancement of Black Canadians.
