VIDEO: Former Kelowna Liberal MP weighs in on Trudeau departure

Hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his exit plan, former Kelowna-Lake Country MP Stephen Fuhr offered his thoughts about what's likely in store for us over the next few months.

He's not very optimistic about his former party's chances of catching Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives ahead of a spring vote.

Trudeau announced Monday morning that he would resign, but not until his party elects a new leader.

"It was a shock for many, but not for a few," said Fuhr. "This was coming. The timing is not great."

The timing leaves the federal Liberals little time to elect a new leader and prepare to go to the polls.

Fuhr admits he's doubtful there is enough time for a Liberal party that is trailing badly in the polls to make up all of that ground.

"I don't think so," he said. "I don't think it can be overcome."

But Fuhr suggested the election could leave his party in opposition to a minority Poilievre government.

"Which would probably be in the best case for everybody," he added.

Still, Fuhr believes his former party has a policy record that stands up to scrutiny.

He shrugs off the suggestion from Conservatives that the government is broken and nothing is working.

"I see hard times for many and I see policies that have made life better for a lot of folks."

Trudeau also announced he is proroguing parliament until late March, just as Donald Trump is about to be sworn in for the second time.

Fuhr suggested the suspension of business in the House of Commons wouldn't make much difference anyway.

"Proroguing parliament just takes the temperature down," he said.

"We still have a functioning government. It's business as usual, we just don't have a bunch of people screaming at each other."

As for his own political aspirations, Fuhr was not taking the bait when asked if he might run again.

"I'm good," he said.

But Fuhr suggested he might be active in the campaign.

"I think I can add value to the conversation."

Canadians could be going to the polls as early as April.