‘Lost Faith’: Toronto Police Union Seeks Trudeau’s Resignation Amid Proposal To Change Criminal Code – News18

Last Updated:December 19, 2024, 09:27 IST

Calls for Justin Trudeau’s resignation: The proposed changes include amendments to the criminal code to ensure repeat offenders are held accountable and stricter bail conditions for violent crimes

Calls for Justin Trudeau’s resignation: In an unprecedented move, a Canadian police labour organisation, Toronto Police Association (TPA), has called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation over proposals to amend the criminal code.

TPA expressed that it had “lost faith” in Trudeau to do the “right thing for the right reasons”.

“Time to resign and leave these critically important public safety issues to someone else,” the police body, irked over proposed amendments to several laws, wrote in a post on X.

Lawmaker Anita Anand recently shared that the Canadian government was proposing several changes in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement.

The proposed changes include amendments to the criminal code to ensure repeat, violent offenders are held accountable, stricter bail conditions for violent crimes such as auto theft and breaking and entering and granting CBSA officers further authority to inspect goods set for export.

Anand said the amendments would ensure violent and repeat offenders are held accountable.

This irked the police union and it commented, “This is laughable. After nine years of doing nothing, you pick the moment when your government is descending into chaos to placate us with “proposals”? What a joke.”

The developments come soon after the abrupt resignation of Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland over rifts due to United States President-Elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats linked to porous borders and immigrant issues. Dominic LeBlanc, a long-time ally of Trudeau, is set to replace Freeland.

LeBlanc is currently serving as Public Safety Minister and will be taking up the added responsibility.

Meanwhile, the Durham Regional Police Association echoed similar thoughts.

It wrote on X, “Adding portfolios to the Public Safety Minister takes away their ability to focus on their preexisting agendas. Empty promises & platitudes have very little meaning & continue to be disingenuous to our Members & the Members of the General public. Violent crimes, gun offences & the lack of actual bail reform does nothing but endanger the public, Officers  & society as a whole.”

“It’s time we elect a Government that will follow through with much needed change instead of empty promises,” it added.

Demands For Trudeau’s Resignation, Finance Minister’s Exit

Several politicians have joined the chorus demanding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation after Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s unexpected departure, following a disagreement over US President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats. A third of the Liberal Party’s MPs are now demanding a leadership change, intensifying the political crisis in Canada.

Reports indicated that Trudeau has not yet decided whether to step down as Prime Minister. Nearly 60 of the 153 Liberal MPs in the House of Commons have joined the rebellion against him. Freeland also resigned as Finance Minister, marking the first major dissent from within Trudeau’s cabinet and threatening his grip on power.

Trudeau trails Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre by 20 points in the polls, with Poilievre having made multiple attempts since September to force a snap election.

In her resignation letter, Freeland cited a “grave challenge” facing Canada, referencing Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian imports. She stated that she and Trudeau had disagreed on the best path forward for the country.