Prime Minister SaskPoliticker has formally resigned, and his resignation has been accepted by the Administrator of the Government of Canada. The following is a televised live address from the former Prime Minister.

Friends, tonight I informed the Administrator of the Government of Canada of my formal resignation as Prime Minister. I have advised the Administrator to appoint Captain.Truedeau as Prime Minister designate. I have, as well, announced my resignation as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.

I was elected in the Prairies on a vision for a big-tent, a tent that put people above politics, a tent that worked hard on policy and made everyone’s lives better every day, for generations to come.

I know that Canadians share this vision, but I no longer have faith that our parliament does.

Many of you may be wondering why I have chosen to resign, instead of calling an election. I believe an election is coming regardless, but there is a reason why I chose not to dissolve the people’s house.

I do not believe that Canadians want an election. They want their lives to improve, and they’ve been seeing that already with this Government. That said, it is apparent that many in this house believe that this Government has no mandate. In a sense, this is a fair case to make. Although I do not agree with its principle, it is a fair case nonetheless.

This house, this parliament is full of good people, people with good intentions. I started out with the Conservatives working across the aisle with the Pirates. This partnership saw commitments made to policies like a Guaranteed Basic Income, and recently we saw a Bill sponsored by myself and the Speaker, the Bud Safety Act.

I hold no ill will towards the Pirates. Although we disagree on several issues, they are fundamentally good people, this Canadians know. That said, I believe that their principles will be tested given my resignation. Will the Pirates truly stand up for what they believe are democratic values, or have they solely been seeking power? Their actions following my announcement tonight will reveal much of their character, to both Canadians and myself.

If I had chosen to dissolve parliament, Canadians would not have the opportunity to observe the true values and intentions of their representatives, and I was not going to allow this house to remain unaccountable.

I want Canadians to know that I will continue to serve as a Member of Parliament, and will resign my posts in Cabinet only if requested to do so by a new Prime Minister, or if an election makes doing so a necessity.

As Finance Minister, I tabled an historic budget, one I am proud of and will continue to expand upon. We delivered tax relief, efficiency, economic growth, and a strong social safety net, while building and protecting the wealth of future generations.

That work will continue.

However, I must announce that I will be leaving the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. I trust all the members of this party, past and present, but I believe we all know that our plan for a big-tent was not built to last in this parliament. I remain committed to working with the party, for I share its big-tent values, but I have somewhere else to be.

Friends, I’m announcing to you today my intention to join the New Democratic Group. I have always been a New Democrat, but there was no movement when I was running for federal office. The party had waned, relegated to provincial politics after a federal deal with the Pirates.

The New Democrats are back, and it gives me great pride to join this movement. I have long been inspired, as Canadians well know, by Saskatchewan’s New Democrat Premiers from Douglas to Calvert, and federal leaders from Broadbent, to Mulcair and Layton. These leaders had vision, and they combined this vision with pragmatism to deliver actual results for Canadians. That’s what I’ve been doing, and there is no better vessel for me to continue doing so than the NDG.

Friends, despite the turmoil of this parliament, we can take comfort and find hope in this movement. I have come home, home to the New Democrats, and together, we’ll Bring it Home.

Goodnight Canada, for tomorrow is another day. A brighter future is our choice to make.