Canada’s governing Liberal Party will announce the country’s new prime minister March 9 after a leadership vote that follows the resignation of Justin Trudeau this week

Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly will not run in the Liberal Party leadership race, a source familiar with her decision told Reuters on Friday.

The comments were responding to President-elect Donald Trump's ongoing suggestions that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

The Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to step down. The new leader will become Canada's next Prime Minister. Candidates will have to declare their intention to run and pay the CAD $350,

Canada's economy added nearly quadruple the number of jobs forecasted for December and the unemployment rate surprisingly ticked down to 6.7%, data showed on Friday, giving the central bank breathing room to determine the pace of further rate cuts.

Canada's finance minister says U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s comments that Canada should become the 51st state are no longer a joke and are meant to undermine America’s closest ally and major trading partner.

The president-elect’s comments about the U.S. annexing its northern neighbor were rejected by Canadians of all political stripes.

In response, Justin Trudeau, who is reportedly stepping down as Canada's prime minister, recently wrote on X: "There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States." Trump-ally Elon Musk then responded: "Girl, you're not the governor of Canada anymore, so doesn't matter what you say."

Podcaster Joe Rogan suggested that America may as well take over Mexico if so many of its people are immigrating illegally, bringing safety to both countries.

President-elect Donald Trump keeps up his taunts of referring to Canada as America's 51st state. However, if it actually happened, it could be a major political gift to Democrats at the expense of Republicans.

By suspending Parliament and promising to resign, the prime minister bought the Liberals time. But Canada will now face Donald J. Trump with a lame duck in charge.