Northern MPs on Trudeau's departure, and what comes next

The North's three MPs are in agreement over at least one thing: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is doing the right thing by stepping down.

Yukon and the N.W.T. are each represented by Liberals right now — Brendan Hanley and Michael McLeod, respectively — while Nunavut is represented by the NDP's Lori Idlout.

All of them told CBC News that they weren't surprised by Trudeau's announcement on Monday that he would resign as his party's leader, and all said that it was the right decision.

"I felt like it was about time," said Idlout, who plans to run for reelection this year.

"I know that I've been a harsh critic against the prime minister for not doing enough, but I do appreciate what he has tried to do," she said.

"I do appreciate that he's been committed to Canada and represented Canada in the best way that he could — and I respect that he's seen that there is a need, a time for change."

Still, Idlout says the Liberals have yet to deliver on some promises — such as a port in the community of Arctic Bay, Nunavut, and an overhaul of the Nutrition North program. 

"I think the focus from now 'til the end of March is to make sure that commitments that were made are delivered," she said. 

"All the promises that were made, there's still time to make sure that they're delivered."

Idlout says she's heard from many Nunavummiut who feel that Trudeau had a "special relationship" with Nunavut, and that they appreciated his visits to the territory.

But Idlout also says that Liberal policies affecting the territory "could have been better, could have been stronger."

"I'm hopeful for the next election," she said.

'We all need to refresh,' says Yukon MP

The North's two Liberal MPs agree that it's time for Trudeau to go — though they're also more keen to tout the prime minister's record.

Hanley called Trudeau a "great leader," but agreed that his time as party leader was up. The Yukon MP said last month that Trudeau should go — and on Monday professed to feeling "relief, and also gratitude" at the prime minister's announcement.

"I could see, I think many of us could see, how hard it was even to verbalize that decision. He's a fighter. He doesn't like to let go," Hanley said.

"But I think he made the right decision and I think at this point, he knew it was the best decision for the country."

Hanley, who has said in the past that he'll seek a second term as MP, also argues that Trudeau had little choice but to prorogue Parliament until March. He said the House had already been under a "state of paralysis" for months.

"I think it's almost like a recognition of, look, we're not getting anywhere. Let's just call it, and take the time, you know, take a bit of a timeout," he said.

"We all need to refresh. And I think this is the right way to do it."

McLeod said many of the northerners he's heard from this week have "mixed feelings" about Trudeau's departure.

"I think most people recognize that his decision to step down was probably appropriate at this time," McLeod said.

McLeod is disappointed that some legislation is now effectively stopped in its tracks, including the First Nations Clean Water Act. But he also defends the decision to prorogue Parliament.

"It's a tool we have, to use so that we can press reset and allow us to reunite and rebuild or whatever needs to take place," he said.

"The Conservatives did it, we didn't like it. And now that we're doing it, the Conservatives don't like it. So, you know, it's part of the process. And I don't think we could have avoided it," he said.

McLeod, who is serving his third term as N.W.T. MP, said last summer that he won't be seeking a fourth term. In the meantime, though, he'll still have a say in who leads his party into the next election. 

"Christy Clark has contacted my office, and Chrystia Freeland, and you know, there's a few other people that want to talk. And so I think the list is going to grow," he said.

"And I think we're going to see some surprises in terms of the names that come forward."