During the Watergate era 50 years ago, the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein popularized the phrase “the non-denial denial.” It meant a statement from a Watergate conspirator that, on the surface, sounded like a denial but which, on closer examination, was not. A non-denial allowed the speaker to avoid being called a liar.

In that light, it’s clear Monday’s resignation by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in fact a non-resignation resignation. Trudeau said he was resigning (Yay!), but that he would not leave the Prime Minister’s office until his Liberal party has selected his replacement.

The typical way for a prime minister or party leader to exit is for them to resign effective immediately. Their party then appoints an interim, holds a leadership race and declares a new leader in approximately six months.

Given that Trudeau said he would break with that tradition and stay on until his replacement is sworn in, Canadians may have to endure his continued leadership until late March at the earliest and possibly June or July.

See what I mean about a non-resignation resignation?

There were very believable rumours out of senior Liberal circles this past weekend that Trudeau returned from his snowboarding holiday mostly (but not entirely) convinced he should step down. He is said to be very determined to host the G7 summit this coming June in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country. So unless the party and caucus agreed to let him stay on another five-and-a-half months, he was not keen to leave.