News Analysis: What happens next for Canada after Trudeau's resignation

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Le Manoir Charlevoix during a past G7 Summit meeting. [File, Standard]

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he is stepping down as the Liberal Party leader but will stay on as prime minister until a new leader is selected, and the announcement has left Canada and Canadians treading water in choppy seas.

The House of Commons was scheduled to resume on January 27, with the Conservatives planning to advance a non-confidence motion. Other opposition parties had indicated their readiness to bring down Trudeau's minority Liberal government.

Trudeau's request for prorogation buys the Liberals time to run an expedited leadership race without facing a confidence vote. Prorogation until March 24, the longest period allowed by law for the House to be out of session, is expected to be approved officially by the Governor General. This will end the current parliamentary session and halt all legislative business, including those proposed in Trudeau's controversial fall economic statement.