Little surprise from some students after Trudeau announces departure

Students react to Trudeau's decision to step down as PM and Liberal leader
Photo: Lara Simard
A Canadian flag waves outside the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council on Jan. 15.

Some Algonquin College students say they aren’t surprised that Justin Trudeau is stepping down as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Trudeau made the announcement outside Rideau Cottage on Jan. 6

“I don’t follow politics like that, but I believe he had it coming just because of the prices and the cost of living,” said first-year policing student May Kay.

Students at Algonquin College are not surprised by Trudeau’s decision since several Liberal MPs have been asking him to leave the job.

Approaching the end of Trudeau’s nine-year leadership, polls for the Liberals dropped to a record-breaking low of 16 per cent on New Year’s Eve. According to the Angus Reid Institute, an independent research firm, Trudeau was recorded to have the worst voter intention in the party’s 157-year history.

Western Departmental Building of Parliament Taken on Jan. 15, Only Nine Days After Trudeau's Resignation
Western Departmental Building of Parliament Taken on Jan 15. Only Nine Days After Trudeau's Resignation Photo credit: Lara Simard

Many blame Trudeau for skyrocketing inflation, housing problems, and facilitating a high immigration rate. In 2024, 46 per cent of Canadians said the Prime Minister should resign, while 59 per cent of current Liberal supporters said it was time for him to step aside and call for a party leadership contest, according to the Angus Reid Institute.

A Canadian flag waves outside the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council on Jan. 15.
A Canadian flag waves outside the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council on Jan. 15. Photo credit: Lara Simard

Because of this, some Algonquin College students are not confident the Liberals will have a chance in an expected federal election this year.

“In reality, I don’t think it’s gonna change anything. The Liberal party has been floundering for the last little while. Everything he’s done for the last little while will pretty much taint the next person,” said construction maintenance student Zachary Zuiderveen.

Zuiderveen thinks Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has a good chance in the political race.

“Poilievre, everything’s pointing that way. Fiscally he’s the most sound. In this economy, we need to start cutting our spending if we want to have a chance of reducing our debt at all because, since COVID-19, we’ve been compiling it like crazy,” Zuiderveen said.

Mikael Malette, a Level 4 electrical engineering tech student, feels indifferent about most political parties and does not think Trudeau’s resignation will have an impact on Canada’s economy.

“I feel like every single political party does not have the interest of most people at heart, so I don’t think it will make much of a difference,” Malette said.

Like Malette, Kay does not believe it is in a certain party’s power to change society, but in Canadians to voice their needs.

“(It) doesn’t matter if it’s Liberal or NDP, (or) you know, Conservatives. We the people have the power, and we have to tell the government what we need to see,” Kay said.

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