Alberta Premier Danielle Smith calls for quick election after Trudeau announces plan to step down [Video]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she hopes lawmakers in Ottawa will force an election “at the first available opportunity” after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his plan to step down from his role once his Liberal party selects a new leader.

Amid growing opposition to his leadership from within his own party, Trudeau announced Monday morning that he will step down as prime minister and as Liberal leader “after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process.”

Trudeau added that Gov. Gen. Mary Simon had granted his request to prorogue Parliament, arguing Parliament has been “paralyzed for months” and needs a new session.

“The Liberal Party has no such mandate from Canadians and they are putting their selfish political interests ahead of the Canadian people by paralyzing Parliament and suspending democracy for months while they fight a divisive internal leadership contest,” Smith said in a post on X.