With Trudeau stepping down, here’s how a Liberal leadership race will look

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday morning he’ll step down after his Liberal party chooses its next leader in a “robust, nationwide competitive process,” telling reporters assembled at Rideau Cottage that he asked party president Sachit Mehra on Sunday to start preparing for the contest.

Trudeau also said that Governor General Mary Simon had granted his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

The prime minister’s announcement sets the stage for the Liberal party’s first leadership election since 2013.

It will also be the party’s first leadership race under a major 2016 rule change, which allowed anyone willing to register as a Liberal for free to vote in party contests.