Liberal MPs who have spent the past 10 days organizing to formally ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down from Liberal leadership will make their case directly to him at next Wednesday’s caucus.
Sources familiar with the plan told CTV News that the main goal is to have a direct dialogue with the prime minister and keep discussions private. Some MPs will be pre-nominated based on their comfort with speaking out on the issue to reflect the group’s sentiment that Prime Minister Trudeau should step down in the interest of the party in the next federal election. .
MPs who spoke to CTV News on condition of anonymity also complained about the way the Prime Minister’s Office handled the Liberal Party’s defeats in two key by-elections in historically safe elections in Toronto and Montreal. He said he intended to make a statement.
These MPs were told by the prime minister’s communications staff at a caucus meeting in Nanaimo, B.C., in early September that substantial plans were underway to address the loss and the sentiment that underpinned it. I was persuaded, but it never happened.
Atlantic Canadian MPs were particularly frustrated in conversations with CTV News about the issue.
Since Friday, CTV News has spoken to 35 Liberal MPs, five of whom confirmed they support plans to formally ask the premier to resign.
The majority of these members said they were aware of the existence of such a letter, but did not admit to having signed it.
On CTV News Channel’s Power Play on Tuesday, Montreal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather did not deny the existence of the letter or that his caucus wants the premier to step down.
When asked if he supported the Prime Minister, Housefather replied: “I will always support whoever is the leader of my party, but that doesn’t mean we should have a robust caucus within our party about who is the best person to lead us. That doesn’t mean there won’t be a next election. ”
Housefather insisted that the debate should take place within the caucus and not in the media.
The parties’ caucuses are held regularly on Parliament Hill on Wednesdays when the House of Representatives is in session. This week is a break week on the House calendar, but lawmakers are expected to take the floor again next week.
The only thing that would change this situation would be if the Prime Minister prorogued Parliament, but both Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Government Leader Karina Gould said that was not on the table. are.
Earlier this week, the prime minister was asked about the possibility of a so-called internal sedition at a press conference on another issue: serious allegations against the Indian government.
“We’ll have time to talk about internal party intrigue another time,” Trudeau told reporters.
But now this government, and indeed all Members of Parliament, should focus on defending Canada’s sovereignty, resisting interference, and supporting Canadians during this difficult time. ”
