Trudeau party MPs demand his resignation as leader or risk revolt
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Twenty liberal lawmakers, none of whom are cabinet members, urge Trudeau to step down as party leader ahead of what is expected to be a difficult federal election.
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Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a meeting during the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan Friday, May 19, 2023. (AP)
Canada’s Liberal party, angered by Justin Trudeau, gave the prime minister an ultimatum: announce your decision regarding the possibility of remaining the party's leader or risk a caucus revolt.
During a closed-door meeting with Liberal lawmakers on Wednesday, 20 MPs, none of whom are cabinet members, urged Trudeau to step down ahead of what is expected to be a difficult election, The Guardian reported.
Two dozen lawmakers signed a letter demanding that Trudeau make his decision by October 28, though they did not specify any clear consequences if he does not.
There are 153 Liberal MPs, signifying that the push against Trudeau lacks broad support. Despite growing concerns about his leadership, no clear alternative has emerged.
This comes after Canadian news reports revealed that a group of MPs from Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party were planning to demand that the prime minister step down from his role as party leader.
According to CTV News, a faction of Liberal MPs had been organizing, with anonymous sources confirming their efforts.
The group was expected to formally request Trudeau's resignation during Wednesday’s caucus meeting. The matter will reportedly be discussed directly with Trudeau and kept out of the public eye.
CTV News also reported that it spoke to around 35 Liberal MPs in recent days, with five expressing support for the plan to remove Trudeau as party leader.
Trudeau remains determined
Trudeau has become highly unpopular and is facing internal calls to resign to prevent a significant electoral defeat that could leave the party in third place, nine years into his tenure.
Current polls show the Conservatives leading the Liberals by a whopping 20 points. Recent by-elections have intensified doubts about Trudeau's future, as the party lost long-held seats, including one in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun and another in downtown Toronto.
The recent electoral losses indicate declining public support for Trudeau’s government, driven by rising living costs, a housing shortage, and policy mismanagement that has weakened backing for immigration.
Regardless, Trudeau remains determined to run in the next federal election, scheduled before fall 2025. After a lengthy cabinet meeting, senior officials reaffirmed their support for him.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller, a close ally, expressed confidence that Trudeau will face Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in the upcoming election.
"This isn’t a code red situation. The prime minister can sure as hell handle the truth," he said, adding he "respects the hell out of my colleagues who were brave and stood up and said things to [Trudeau’s] face."
Meanwhile, other MPs indicated that Trudeau could retain the party's confidence if he and his close advisors implemented substantial changes in their approach to policy and messaging.
"The prime minister has to listen to the frustrations – in some cases, very valid frustrations of caucus colleagues – and incorporate that into changes moving forward," said Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.
Trudeau, on the other hand, told reporters that the party is "strong and united."
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