'It was the right decision': Quebec politicians, residents react to Trudeau resignation

Elected officials in Quebec were quick to react to the major announcement in Ottawa Monday about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the path forward for the federal Liberal Party.

Trudeau said in an address from Rideau Cottage that he is stepping down as leader of the party and will remain prime minister until a new leader is chosen, citing "internal battles" within his own party as the reason for his decision.

Anthony Housefather, the Liberal MP for Mount Royal, publicly called on the prime minister to step down three weeks ago and on Monday he said Trudeau made the right choice.

"He made the right decision for the country and for the party," he told CTV News in an interview.

As an early federal election looms, Housefather said the Liberals needed to have an alternative to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who has been leading by a vast margin in the polls.

The calls for Trudeau to resign had been growing for months, but Housefather disagreed with the notion that the prime minister's decision came too late in the game.

"The Conservatives and the other parties will not have the election that they wanted, which was Justin Trudeau being the defining ballot issue for Canadians and Canadians looking past the other leaders and the policies that they offered and say, 'Well, we didn't want Justin Trudeau anymore,'" the Quebec MP said.

Quebec premier, Montreal mayor react

At the provincial level, ministers in the Quebec government offered their reaction to the prime minister's announcement but also expressed concern about the possible economic implications.

Quebec Premier François Legault, who has often clashed with Trudeau over policy decisions such as immigration, recognized Trudeau's service to Canadians.

"Although our opinions have often differed, today I want to salute [Trudeau's] public service and his commitment to Canada," Legault wrote on X.

"We have significant challenges ahead of us, particularly with the arrival of Donald Trump on January 20. I will continue to work with Mr. Trudeau, his successor and the current government to avoid these tariffs."

Jean-François Roberge, the province's minister responsible for Canadians relations and the French language, struck a similar tone in his social media post.

"There are still many issues to address, including border security and the impact of immigration on our public services and reception capacity. We will continue discussions with the federal government," he said after thanking Trudeau for his public service.

Quebec Economy Minister Christine Frechette cited her concerns about postering from president-elect Donald Trump in her post on X.

"It remains important for the federal government to move issues forward in the interests of #Québec's businesses and economy," she wrote.

"This is all the more topical with the imminent arrival of Donald Trump. We must work together to avoid the imposition of tariffs."

Meanwhile, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said Trudeau "has always been an ally of Montreal," and highlighted his government's support for various issues in the city he calls home, including the fight against poverty, the extension of the Metro's Blue line, and the construction of non-market housing on the island.

"When governments support cities, they can achieve great things," she said.

"The challenges before us are major, and the best solutions will come from the ground up, from the municipalities. Their role is essential, and I personally thank Justin, who has always recognized this."

After Trudeau met with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon Monday morning, she granted his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24, giving the party time to run an expedited leadership race.

People in Trudeau's Montreal riding have their say

People in Trudeau's Montreal riding of Papineau felt mixed emotions about the prime minister's resignation on Monday.

Faisal Amin, who owns a grocery store on Hutchison Street, told The Canadian Press that he’s a big fan of Trudeau on a personal level but thinks it's time for him to go.

"He’s a good guy and I like him, but economically we are very, very stressed," said Amin, who met Trudeau at a Greek community parade in the riding four years ago. "In this situation I think it’s better to resign and give other people, another guy (a chance) to perform.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his resignation as Liberal leader and prime minister outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Amin said there are too many immigrants for too few jobs, and that people have become depressed, especially since COVID-19. "We can’t say it’s completely his fault, but it’s time," he said.

Several people who spoke with The Canadian Press said they liked Trudeau — or once had — but felt he had no choice but to resign given his loss of support. Some criticized his handling of the economy and — even in a riding where many were born outside Canada — said he lost control over immigration.

Eric Tremblay, who stopped to talk on his way into a grocery store, said he was saddened by the resignation and by how it came about. He felt Trudeau had been a good prime minister, for the most part. "He was basically kicked out," Tremblay said.

"That’s sad for any leader."

With files from CTV News Montreal's Maya Johnson and The Canadian Press