Trudeau jokes that Liberal party is like a family that ‘fights around the holidays’

With his political world seemingly crumbling around him, Justin Trudeau proved that one thing is still intact — his sense of humour.

In the midst of high-profile resignations and increasing calls for him to step down, Trudeau managed to make light of the situation at the annual Liberal holiday party on Tuesday night in Ottawa.

The embattled Prime Minister likened the recent discord among the Liberal Party he leads to a family that fights during the holidays.

“It has been an eventful couple of days,” Trudeau told the crowd, which included his now-former Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland.

“It hasn’t been easy and that’s why I’m so happy to see you guys,” he added with a tinge of facetiousness.

“Like most families, sometimes we have fights around the holidays,” he added to scattered laughter. “But of course, like most families, we find our way through it.”

Whether Trudeau will ‘find his way’ through his party’s infighting remains to be seen.

Sources say he’s taking some time to reflect on his future after the bombshell resignation of Freeland as Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister on Monday — a move that came just hours before she was scheduled to introduce the fall economic statement.

Freeland’s resignation was pounced on by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who said it’s further proof that Trudeau has lost control of Canada’s top job, and should be toppled in a non-confidence vote.

That would take the cooperation of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who Poilievre has accused of propping Trudeau up for his own gain.

 “We cannot accept this kind of chaos, division, weakness while we’re staring down the barrel of a 25 per cent tariff from our biggest trading partner and closest ally,” Poilievre said, referring to a looming threat from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.

While Singh hasn’t committed to a non-confidence vote, he has urged Trudeau to step down, and says Canadians will ultimately have the chance to replace him if he doesn’t.

“Justin Trudeau has shown to Canadians, who are saying ‘I’m having a hard time with my life, I’m very getting by’ that he’s more focused on himself,” Singh told Breakfast Television on Wednesday morning.

“We know there’s going to be an election next year …. and people tell me again and again that they are fed up with and done with the Liberals, they don’t deserve another chance.”

Trudeau will have a few weeks to decide on his next move with the House of Commons on its holiday break.

MPs will return to Ottawa on January 27, one week after the second inauguration of Trump.