Politics
Liberal MPs Call on Trudeau to Resign
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing extreme political pressure, with Liberal MPs publicly urging him to step down for the sake of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Yesterday, Trudeau faced a triple setback: the resignations of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Housing Minister Sean Fraser and a crushing byelection loss in British Columbia.
Trudeau is facing an uphill battle to maintain his grip on leadership as dissatisfaction among Liberal MPs is mounting. The recent events have added fuel to the fire.
Freeland, formerly one of Trudeau’s most prominent cabinet members, resigned in protest after allegedly being informed she’d be shuffled out of her role as finance minister. Many MPs believe this was poorly handled and symbolic of deeper issues within Trudeau’s leadership.
Adding insult to injury, the Liberals lost a B.C. byelection by 50 percentage points to the Conservatives—a seat they had held in the last general election. This loss has amplified concerns that Trudeau can no longer resonate with voters.
For the Good of the Party
Some Liberal MPs said Tuesday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cannot continue as party leader and needs to resign for the party’s good.
Liberal MPs like Wayne Long and Ken Hardie are now outspoken critics, claiming that Trudeau’s leadership is a huge liability for the party. Long described the Prime Minister as “living in a false reality,” warning that staying the course could lead the Liberals to electoral disaster.
Ontario MP Francis Drouin, a longstanding defender of Trudeau, has joined the chorus of dissent. He doubted the party’s ability to move forward under Trudeau, saying, “I’ve been a great defender, but I just don’t see how we recover.”
Other MPs, including Alexandra Mendès and Sean Casey, have echoed similar sentiments. Mendès stated she was deeply affected by Freeland’s treatment, while Casey suggested that Trudeau no longer enjoys the confidence of the caucus.
The Liberal caucus appears more divided than ever, with roughly a third of MPs reportedly favouring Trudeau’s immediate resignation. According to Long, between 40 and 50 MPs actively push for his resignation, while around 50 remain loyal to him. The rest are seemingly undecided or staying silent.
Trudeau’s Unwillingness to relinquish power
This lack of unity is becoming a significant issue. MP Chad Collins admitted, “I can say we’re united.” He suggested a secret ballot within the caucus would reveal overwhelming opposition to Trudeau’s continued leadership.
At a Liberal caucus meeting today, Trudeau acknowledged the growing discontent; however, he hasn’t shown any signs of stepping down. He assured MPs he understood their concerns, but many doubted his willingness to relinquish power.
The Liberals are at a crossroads. Liberal MPs worry they could lose the next general election if Trudeau remains in office, with polls showing Trudeau’s public support hovering around 20 percent.
MPs have called for a change before it’s too late, calling Trudeau’s leadership a “drag” on the party’s prospects.
The internal division might deepen if Trudeau doesn’t resign. According to some political analysts, more backbenchers will switch sides against Trudeau, especially if they are left out of the next cabinet move.
One thing is certain: the Liberal Party must decide soon. The longer the ambiguity persists, the more difficult it will be to regain voters’ confidence. For now, Canadians are left wondering whether Trudeau’s tenure as prime minister is ending—or if he will beat the odds once more.
