Former Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau/SCREENGRAB
Justin Trudeau has resigned as leader of Canada's governing party after nearly a decade as prime minister.
Trudeau, however, said in a news conference in Ottawa that he will stay on as PM until a new Liberal Party leader is chosen.
"This country deserves a real choice" at the next election, he says, announcing that parliament will be prorogued until 24 March.
Trudeau had been undergoing pressure from within his party and elsewhere to step down
Trudeau said he made his decision to resign after having a long conversation with his family; he says his success was due to their support. He told his kids about his decision to resign at dinner last night.
He further said that Canada is a better country today than when he took office as prime minister in 2015. He says his government made the economy work for everyone, not just a few—he says it reduced poverty and got more people into the workforce.
