Toronto – Canada's governing Liberal Party will announce the country's next prime minister on March 9 after a leadership vote that follows the resignation of Justin Trudeau this week, party leaders said late Thursday. Trudeau remains prime minister until a new leader is chosen.

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.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. The Prime Minister offered his sincerest condolences regarding the fatalities and destruction in the Los Angeles area from the ongoing wildfires, and he offered Canada’s full support to assist California’s firefighting efforts.