Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus calls Justin Trudeau’s resignation announcement “a huge moment in Canadian political history”.
The New Democrat notes that it comes exactly two weeks from the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has already made unprecedented threats.
“I was really hoping that we would be able to show a strong vision and determination to stand up to the thuggery,” Angus comments, “but with the continual in-fighting in the Liberal party, this has clearly become impossible.”
Angus adds that the fallout from Trudeau’s resignation will be encouragement for Trump to be more aggressive with Canada.
Angus says over the last year, Parliament has descended into dysfunction, and opposition leader Pierre Poilièvre hasn’t allowed any legislation to pass, to improve life for Canadians. He also says Trudeau has been “phoning it in”.
“I think he’s made the right decision. I think he should have made it earlier. I think he would have left on a stronger legacy, but we are going to have to really get our act together very quickly as Canadians right now.”
Angus will not run for re-election, whenever the federal vote is held. The party nominee for a new, much larger riding geographically, is the former mayor of Moonbeam, Nicole Fortier-Lévesque.
Here is our full interview, in audio form:
