Justin Trudeau’s set to go after the Liberals pick his replacement, what now?

We speak with CTV’s senior political correspondent Mike Le Couteur about Trudeau’s resignation and what it means for the party’s future.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announcing Monday that he intends to resign as Liberal leader and prime minister as soon as his party names his replacement, has set a series of political machinations in motion.

Trudeau, saying he “absolutely” still thinks the Liberals can beat Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, has asked Liberal Party of Canada president Sachit Mehra to immediately initiate a leadership race.

Beyond confirming that the national board of the party will meet this week to begin the process of setting the parameters and timeline for selecting a new leader, many questions remain about how that campaign will take shape.

It has been more than a decade since the party last ran a federal leadership contest, and at the time the Liberals had been relegated to third-party status. In the years since, Trudeau has been widely credited for rebuilding a party that’s now seeking a rebrand.

After some talk of tapping an interim seemed to be squashed by Trudeau calling for “a robust, nationwide, competitive process,” MPs were briefed on Monday about the party’s constitution and their potential role in the search for the next Liberal leader.

The caucus still has a hybrid in-person and virtual emergency national meeting on the books for Wednesday, for members of Parliament to talk strategy and next steps.

The Liberals looking to reset and reengage Canadians with a fresh face within a few months has also cast new spotlight on the cadre of long-speculated leadership contenders.

As potential hopefuls mull their prospects in an expedited race – that may see them before the polls and then in an opposition position within months – Trudeau may have to shuffle his cabinet again soon to replace any potential ministers who step off the front bench to launch their bids.

Many MPs have expressed hope that a leadership race will provide an opportunity to hear new ideas and energize progressives enough to make it so the ballot question in the next campaign is not a referendum on the outgoing prime minister.

Though, with prorogation only staving off the risk of the government falling on a confidence vote until late March, the chances are high that whoever is tapped to be the next Liberal leader will have a considerably short runway to debut their new vision to Canadians.

“We have a lot of very strong contenders to lead our party and the country into the future,” said Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi. “So much can change in so little time. And right now, we are stepping forward. I’m really excited personally about what the next weeks have to offer and what we as a party have to showcase to our party membership and to Canadians.”

“And I’m confident that we will be able to win government again with a new leader,” he said.