Newfoundland Liberal MP Ken MacDonald said he thinks it would take “something like a miracle” to turn around the Liberal party’s electoral fortunes before the next federal election.
CBC interview Power and politics, MacDonald said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau still has high support among the Liberal caucus, even after the party suffered an unexpected defeat in a by-election in a Toronto-area seat.
“I think there are a lot of MPs who feel uneasy,” Mr McDonald said. “Do I think there are a large number of MPs who still support the prime minister? Yes.”
He also confirmed he would not be running again for the Liberal Party in the Avalon riding, but added that the tough challenges facing the Liberal party were not the reason he was not running.
McDonald, who was elected in 2015, said the decision not to run again was made “a long time ago” and that his original plan was to serve two terms and then “walk away.”
In another interview Power and politicsDeputy Speaker of the House Mark Gerretsen said: [the Liberal] The caucus is behind the Prime Minister.”
After at least nine Liberal MPs signed a letter calling for an in-person caucus meeting to discuss the party’s loss in the Toronto-St. Paul by-election, Newfoundland and Labrador MP Ken MacDonald and deputy government House of Commons leader Mark Gerretsen shared their views on Justin Trudeau’s leadership with Power & Politics.
The Conservatives’ big loss in the once Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul has led some to question Trudeau’s leadership, with New Brunswick Liberal MP Wayne Long publicly calling on Trudeau to step down as leader of the Liberal party.
“The future of our party and the interest of our country require new leadership and a new direction,” Long said in an email to the Liberal caucus obtained by CBC News.
McDonald responded to the email, saying, “Well said!”
Asked about that response, Mr McDonald said he did not agree with Mr Long, but added that “a conversation needs to be had” about party leadership.
January, McDonald’s He told a Radio-Canada reporter. Trudeau said he should undergo a leadership review. He retracted his comments He said he would continue to support his caucus colleagues and Mr Trudeau.
Several lawmakers call for in-person caucuses
Several times during the interview Power and politicsMacDonald called for an in-person caucus, which he said would “allow everyone to speak their mind without any backlash because those conversations can be difficult sometimes.”
MacDonald is not the only one calling for such a meeting: Liberal MP George Chahal, who represents Calgary-Skyview, told colleagues in an email on Friday that he had signed a letter to National Liberal Caucus chair Brenda Shanahan calling for an in-person meeting in Ottawa.
“This was an election that the Liberal Party of Canada should not have lost,” Chahal wrote in a message to Shanahan. “The people of Toronto-St. Paul sent a clear message.”
Chahal said the letter was also signed by eight other lawmakers and that he would leave it to them to reveal their identities.
McDonald said he did not sign the letter.
Gerretsen said he didn’t disagree with “the fact that we need to get together and talk,” but added that it was not up to Downing Street to decide when the caucus would meet.
“I believe the best way to have these discussions is to have the opportunity to come together in private and share our views,” he said.
Gerretsen also hit back at MacDonald’s comments about the Liberal Party’s political outlook.
He said that when Canadians are presented with the choice of a federal government led by Conservative Leader Pierre Poirierbre, “they will make a wise decision in terms of what they want for the future.”
