When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was elected in 2015, he promised sunny ways and "a real change." Over the last nine years, there's no doubt his government has focused on fighting climate change, advancing Indigenous reconciliation and lifting some Canadians out of poverty.

By suspending Parliament and promising to resign, the prime minister bought the Liberals time. But Canada will now face Donald J. Trump with a lame duck in charge.

Justin Trudeau has announced he will step down after nine years as Canadian prime minister in the face of a mounting set of crises, but stay in office until a replacement party leader is chosen.

Another possible candidate is the new finance minister, Dominic LeBlanc. The former public safety minister, and a close friend of Trudeau, LeBlanc recently joined the prime minister at a dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. LeBlanc was Trudeau’s babysitter when Trudeau was a child.

Trudeau announced his resignation after facing an increasing loss of support from both within his party and in the country.

The prime minister’s celebrity helped bring him to power. Even after his popularity collapsed, it still drew crowds.

North America will have another new leader this year, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned as his party’s leader this week, kicking off a race to succeed him. Brian Platt has the view from Ottawa.