Chrystia Freeland, the former deputy prime minister, sought to distance herself from Mr. Trudeau in a public letter criticizing him for “costly political gimmicks.”

Chrystia Freeland, whose abrupt resignation as finance minister last month forced Justin Trudeau's exit as prime minister, said she is running to be the next leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister of Canada.

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.

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.

Canada's ruling Liberal Party is looking for a new leader to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced on Jan. 6 he intended to step down. The Liberal Party will pick a new chief on March 9.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, facing criticism from multiple fronts, has announced that he will not run in the next general election and may even retire from politics. This marks an unexpected conclusion to the career of a leader who was once hailed as a dynamic,