Conservative Party and Bloc Québécois leaders called for immediate elections following the resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, while New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh joined these voices demanding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau step down from his position.

Here are the details of the developments on Monday, December 16:

6:15 PM Eastern Time: Trudeau prepares to deliver a speech

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to speak at 7:00 PM from the Canadian Museum of History, in his first public appearance after Freeland's resignation.

5:43 PM: Trudeau addresses the Liberal caucus

Trudeau was seen delivering a speech to the parliamentary caucus of the Liberal Party during an emergency meeting, where Freeland was present and received a warm applause from her colleagues.

5:30 PM: Elizabeth May describes the day as “unprecedented”

Green Party leader Elizabeth May described the day as unprecedented, noting that the resignation of a finance minister just hours before an economic statement is “shocking.”

4:45 PM: Dominic LeBlanc sworn in as Finance Minister

Dominic LeBlanc was appointed as the new Finance Minister succeeding Freeland in a ceremony held at Government House.

4:12 PM: $61.9 billion financial deficit revealed

The fall economic statement presented by Trudeau's government showed that the financial deficit reached $61.9 billion for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, exceeding previous expectations.

3:45 PM: Calls for leadership change within the Liberal Party

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather stated that Trudeau has “outstayed his welcome” as party leader, calling for his resignation to enable the party to remain competitive in the upcoming elections.

2:18 PM: Singh calls for Trudeau's resignation

In a strong statement, the leader of the New Democratic Party said it is time for Trudeau to resign, emphasizing that all options are on the table to restore confidence in the government.

12:30 PM: Freeland hints at party leadership

Freeland’s message announcing her resignation raised speculation about her intention to run for the leadership of the Liberal Party, as she concluded her speech by affirming her intention to run again to represent her riding.

Trudeau now faces tough choices amidst rising crises and political pressure from both inside and outside, amid increasing calls for a change in leadership.