Toronto: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has resigned as the head of state and leader of the ruling Liberal Party after a nine-year tenure in office and mounting pressure from within his party for a leadership change.
With only two months left until the March 24 deadline for selecting a new leader, the race for his successor has heated up. The country's parliament will remain suspended until the Liberal Party elects a new leader.
Among the names being considered as potential successors are Anita Anand, the Indian-origin transport minister, who has emerged as one of the strongest contenders for the top post. Other prominent figures in the race include Chrystia Freeland (the former Deputy Prime Minister who resigned before Trudeau's departure), Melanie Joly, Mark Carney, and François-Philippe Champagne.
Anita Anand is currently serving as the minister of transport and internal trade. She has held several key positions in the last five years, including minister of public services and procurement, minister of national defence, and president of the treasury board.
Anita, a 57-year-old Indian-origin politician, was born and raised in Kentville in Nova Scotia. She is the daughter of Saroj D Ram and SV (Andy) Anand, both Indian physicians of Tamil and Punjabi religions, respectively.
Bitter-sweet moment for Indo-Canadians
For some Indian Canadians, Trudeau's departure is "bitter-sweet", adding that his immigration policies contributed to the challenges that ultimately led to his resignation. "It's like driving without the right fuel," Suraj Subhadarshee, business and product strategy manager at a tech firm in Toronto, said. "His resignation was bitter-sweet. That said, some of his policies especially around immigration, government sanctions and aid have brought this day."
"The Indian Canadian community is in favour of the resignation. Although liberal, his government's policies have failed to avoid the economic setbacks and their impact on individuals and families," a senior analyst at a tech firm said.
Trudeau's Immigration Stand
Trudeau's immigration policies have been both celebrated and criticised. His government's ambitious targets, including plans to welcome over 500,000 permanent residents annually by 2025, were intended to address labour shortages and rejuvenate Canada's ageing population. However, critics argue that the rapid influx of immigrants has strained housing, healthcare, and other public services.
India-Canada Relations
Trudeau's resignation also raises questions about the future of India-Canada relations, which have reached a historic low. The Indian-Canadian community is aware of the implications of strained diplomatic ties, particularly for immigrants and those maintaining cross-border connections.
"Honestly, I don't expect much from the interim government. That said, I definitely have high hopes from the leader of the Conservatives, Pierre Poilievre," Subhadarshee said.
