Justin Trudeau’s Speech Ahead of Liberal Leadership Change

March 9, 2025

Ella-Grace Trudeau: Hi, everyone! I’ve come here to talk to you about your Prime Minister, your leader, but to me, it’s just dad. 

I think we all know that being a prime minister is not the easiest job in the world – long days of work, stress, media attention. It’s not that easy to be the kid of a prime minister either. I’ve been trying hard to live the life of a normal teenager, but I think you can imagine it’s not that simple of a task.

Security, rules, drama have all stopped me feeling free over the past few years. The number of times who spoke to me about him was if he wasn’t my father so that led me to doubt the integrity of some people.

I’ve had some great conversations with my dad about the difficult situations I’ve lived through, and he never failed to make me feel better. He listened, and more than that, I knew he heard me; he understood me because he lived through all that. The only difference is that back then, there was no social media. Imagine constantly seeing your dad or even news about him as you scroll through your feed, I got to say I’m looking forward to seeing more of him at home and less of him online. But I would never trade the last few years for anything. 

Dad, I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud to have seen you fight for our country, for what you believe in, for what we in this room believe in.

Proud to have seen you fight for those in need. 

I’m extremely grateful to have lived these experiences and grateful to those around me who have made it even just a little bit easier.

I’m so lucky to have been able to experience so much to meet so many extraordinary people to see so many beautiful things and places.

I never forget the memories I’ve made: be it at Harrington Lake on official trips or even just at home. And I’m really looking forward to making some new memories of a different kind.

My brothers and I have shared our dad with you for the past 12 years, now we’re taking him back. But before we do, I guess you can have him one last time. Please welcome your Prime Minister, my dad, Justin Trudeau. 

Justin Trudeau: Good evening, my friends. Good evening, everyone. Hello, my friends. You know, as I look out across this room, I have just one question: How’s the Liberal Party doing tonight? 

Ella-Grace, I know that these last few years haven't been easy for Xavier, Hadrien, yourself. Thank you for having been so patient with me even when I was stressed, when I was traveling too much, when I couldn’t think about anything other than work. But please know that in the most difficult times, you inspired me, you gave me courage, you reminded me that I should focus on what was really important and not what was just urgent. 

Being prime minister of this country has been the honor of my life, but I’m so looking forward to re-devoting myself to my most important role, that of father. I’m proud of the three of you and I love you above all. 

Now, sit down. Now, I can imagine that you’re all expecting me to stand up and talk about all that we’ve accomplished together. And don’t get me wrong, I am damn proud of what we’ve done over these past 10 years for the middle-class and people working hard to join it, but tonight, tonight is about our future as a party, as a country.

Now, I know that we as Liberals, as a government, often get criticized by our friends for not taking a victory lap after we get something big done. We do something really big, and then we move on right away to the next challenge. Because as progressives, as Liberals, we know there is always more to do. So it is important to take the time to reflect on and share the big successes. But not tonight, not tonight, because when Liberals gather, we’re always focused on just one thing, the work that still needs to be done to build a country that stays worthy of all Canadians. And simply put, that’s the work of a lifetime for each and every one of us. 

It’s very simple. Liberals are dedicated to making this country even better, not because we think it’s broken, but because we have an opportunity, and therefore a responsibility, to ensure that Canada stays the best country on Earth. Now these past years – these past 10 years – have been challenging, crisis after crisis has been thrown at Canadians. But through every crisis, Canadians have shown who they are. We’ve pulled together. We’ve stood up for each other. And every single time, we’ve emerged even stronger. 

And now, as Canadians face – from our neighbor – an existential challenge, an economic crisis, Canadians are showing exactly what we are made of! Canadians are showing what it is that makes us Canadians, not by defining ourselves by who we’re not, but by proudly embracing who we are. 

We are a country that knows that standing up for everyone’s fundamental rights is the only way to protect our freedom. 

We’re a country that believes no one should be left behind, and that everyone should have a real and fair shot at success. 

We’re a country that refuses to accept the false choice between a strong economy and a healthy environment. 

We’re a country that embraces reconciliation and Indigenous peoples as true partners, because it is the only path to a shared prosperous future.

We are a country that promotes its culture and protects its heritage. 

We’re a country that brings life into the French language and is heard across the world. 

We’re a country that celebrates its diversity and draws strength from its differences. 

We’re a country that celebrates the right of each and every person to be who they want to be, to pray as they pray and love whom they love. 

We’re a country that will always defend a woman’s right to choose. 

And we’re a country that will be diplomatic when we can, but fight when we must, elbows up. 

But you, you here in this room and our fellow Liberals watching across the country, you know all about fighting: with grit, with determination when the going gets tough. You remember where we were 15 years ago with just 35 seats in the House. You remember our ups and downs and all those times that people counted us out, all the times they said our Party was on its last breath. Like all Canadians, it’s when you try to count us out that we Liberals show our true mettle. 

You showed this in 2015, 2019, and again in 2021. You mobilized. You knocked on doors. You did it in the rain, in a heat wave, in the freezing cold. You did it in the middle of a pandemic, wearing a mask. You fought for your country, and you changed it for the better.

You know, a party is more than just a name, a logo, a leader; it’s all about you, you who carry the hopes of Canadians day in, day out. A country is more than a flag and a territory; it’s a vision, a vision which is built gradually day after day between friends and neighbors.

And I’d like to thank all those who have been there to build this vision together. I’m thinking here about my first volunteers eighteen years ago, those who have been there since the start. Reign, Louis Alexandre, Stavoulins, and others, so many others. I’m thinking about the grocery store parking lots in Pepinot when we talk to people to rally them to our cause, to our movement.

Tonight, I’m also thinking of two friends in particular, who’ve been there with me and for me every step of the way, close to 20 years – the extraordinary Adam Scotti and the unstoppable Katie Telford. Now, as I look at all of you in this room, no speech could be enough to thank you all as much as I’d like to, as much as you should be. I can’t even offer you a well-deserved break, because once again, we need you. Your country needs you, maybe more than ever, and I have no doubt that you will answer the call, because you’ve done it before. Liberals will meet this moment! 

And make no mistake: this is a nation-defining moment. Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given. None of those happen by accident. None of them will continue without effort. It takes courage; it takes sacrifice; it takes hope and hard work. 

Sixty years ago, standing atop Parliament Hill Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson first raised our beautiful maple leaf into the Canadian sky. It was much debated at the time, but Pearson knew well what we all know now: that our flag would serve as a unifying symbol that would define the next chapters in our national story. Sixty years later, there are still so many more chapters to write, and I can tell you, the world is looking to see what Canadians will do.

So let us not dwell on all the great things we’ve achieved over the past ten years. 

Let us aspire instead to achieve even more over the next ten years and the decades to come. 

Let us remain steadfast, defiant and united.

And let us not just think about our Party. 

Let us prove our love of country. 

As your leader, as your Prime Minister, I have done my level best each and every single day to help build a country that stays worthy of all Canadians. I’ve done it for Xavier, for Ella-Grace and Hadrian, and I’ve done it for your kids, too. I’ve done it with you. And although you’ll always find me alongside you cheering along, their future and your future is now in your hands. 

Merci, mes amis, merci beaucoup.