Amna: Canada's Justin Trudeau announced he intends to resign as prime minister and leader of the liberal party under trend this pressure from his own caucus and among his closest allies.

Here are part of his remarks making that announcement earlier today.

>> I have always been driven by my love for Canada, by my desire to serve Canadians and by what is in the best interest of Canadians and Canadians deserve a real choice in the next election.

It has become obvious to me with the internal battles that I cannot be the one to carry the liberal standard into the next election.

Amna: He will remain prime minister until the new liberal leader is selected at the end of March as his party prepares for a formidable challenge.

I'm joined by professor Roland Paris from the university of body walk and a former senior advisor to the prime minister of Canada.

Welcome.

There have been signs for months that this is coming but help us understand why this is happening now.

>> I think it was heading in this direction for some time.

This is a story of a government and prime minister that has been in power for nearly 10 years.

Canadians are tired of him.

Coles turned decisively against him -- polls turned decisively against him 18 months ago.

With the prospects of an election and what looks like an inevitable crushing defeat in that election, even members of his own party and caucus called for him to resign.

Amna: It is worth remembering that he was a rising star in global Progressive politics when he became prime minister in 2015.

He had high approval ratings soon after and by last year they were down to the mid-20.

What fueled such a spectacular fall from grace?

>> He suffered from being in power during the pandemic with all of the disruption caused by the pandemic landing on his doorstep.

And also of course inflation, cost-of-living, housing.

Mostly it was time.

Governments don't tend to last more than 10 years in Canada.

He was into his ninth year.

Government leaders are popular when they are elected and usually unpopular when they are defeated.

Amna: Tell us about the opposition leader of the conservative party.

What role they'd he play in his downfall?

>> He was doing everything he could to weaken the liberal party.

She is in an interesting position.

The opposition conservative party is 24 points ahead in the polls.

If there was an election today that would likely result in a crushing majority victory for the opposition conservatives.

It seems it is his job for the taking.

But his net approval ratings are - 17.

A lot of Canadians haven't warmed up to him yet.

We will see what he does in the next few weeks.

And whether he can win over Canadians.

I suspect that if there was an election now, he would win anyway.

Amna: What about the role of president trump?

He has mocked prime minister true though -- prime minister Justin Trudeau.

And today he posted this writing "Many people in Canada love being the 51st state.

U.S.

Cannot suffer the massive subsidies and trade deficits Canada needs.

Justin Trudeau knew this and resigned.

He goes on to suggest that Canada should merge with the U.S. >> I would say his statement are non--- is nonsense.

And viewed as nonsense here.

The dynamic that led them the resignation today was underway long before Mr. Trump was elected in November.

With that said, Donald Trump's threat of imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and other countries once he takes office, that is taken very seriously here and it would have devastating effects.

With regard to Donald Trump's comments about Canada's trade surplus that that as a result of Canada selling to the U.S.

The resources that the United States wants more than 50% of the crude oil imports in the U.S. Come from Canada.

A lot of the critical minerals that fuel America's technological industries come from Canada.

I don't think Mr. Trump wants to cut those things off.

Amna: You have Mr. Trump coming back into office in a few weeks.

There could be a change in government in Canada ahead.

What you see will be the relationship for the countries ahead?

>> I expect the fundamental relationship remains solid because it is so much more than the relationship between the president and whoever the prime minister is.

It is a deep and interim mashed relationships.

One of the closest in the world.

Both economically and in many other respects as well.

With that said I think we may be in for a bumpy time.

In Canada we will have a lame-duck prime minister.

There will be uncertainty on the Canadian side.

And I hope that the good work that has been done to build relationships across the U.S.

Political system will continue to carry forward this important bilateral relationship in the years to come.

Amna: That is professor Harris from university of Harris -- of ottawa.

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