ottawa –
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is weighing his options after calls for him to resign following Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s bombshell resignation on Monday.
Freeland resigned as finance minister on Monday. That same day, she was scheduled to release her fall economic report, just days after Prime Minister Trudeau told her she would step down as finance minister.
The decision appears to have backfired, sparking a chorus of calls for the prime minister to resign, including from several Liberal MPs, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and the Toronto Star editorial board.
Prime Minister Trudeau told an emergency caucus meeting Monday night that he would reflect on what was said.
A Liberal Party official with knowledge of the situation was not authorized to speak publicly about the discussions, but confirmed to The Canadian Press that Trudeau was mulling over what to do next with aides.
Those thoughts include whether he should stay or leave.
Prime Minister Trudeau has canceled year-end interviews with media outlets and has not yet spoken publicly about Freeland’s resignation.
Prime Minister Trudeau has resisted calls to resign for more than a year, but if recent developments change his mind, he has several options: to immediately resign and walk away, or to stay in office until a new leader is chosen. There are options. Either option would likely require a temporary recess of parliament to allow for a brief leadership contest.
If Prime Minister Trudeau were to remain in office, he would be able to limit some of the damage in his caucus, and some believe that at least a third of Liberal MPs currently want him to resign.
New Brunswick Rep. Wayne Long, one of the first MPs to call for Trudeau’s resignation earlier this year, sent a letter to the entire caucus on Wednesday calling the “mismanagement” of Freeland’s resignation “embarrassing.” “This indicts the confusion and insularity within the party,” he said. Prime Minister’s aides. ”
The House of Commons is currently on vacation, giving the prime minister several weeks to decide on his next move before MPs return to Ottawa on January 27.
On Tuesday night, he spoke at the National Liberal Caucus’ holiday party in Ottawa, which Freeland also attended.
He indirectly referred to Monday’s events, saying the past few days had been eventful.
He likened the Liberal Party to a “big family” and said: “It hasn’t been easy. That’s why I’m so happy to see you all.”
“Like most families, we sometimes have fights around the holidays. But of course, like most families, we get through it.”
Mr Freeland’s resignation came on the same day that Housing Minister Sean Fraser publicly announced he would not seek re-election, citing family reasons.
A senior government official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith was being considered to replace Mr Fraser in a future cabinet reshuffle.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2024.
