Disgruntled lawmakers from Canada’s ruling Liberals on Wednesday vented their frustrations in a closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom they blame for the party’s poor results, attendees said.
While Trudeau is not in immediate danger, the meeting is among the most serious political challenges he has faced in his nine years in power. The big parties usually meet on Wednesdays, but the circumstances this time are unusual.
A smiling Trudeau, who said the party is “strong and united,” insists he will lead the Liberals into the next election, due by the end of October 2025. Opinion polls show that with him at the helm, the party will lost to the official opposition conservatives.
“It’s something that I think has been simmering for a while and it’s important that people get it out,” said Immigration Minister Mark Miller, a close Trudeau ally.
“What was going on there … is actually about MPs telling the truth to the prime minister, whether he wants to hear it or not,” he told reporters.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported that 24 of the party’s 153 lawmakers had signed a letter calling for Trudeau to step down.
Discontent with Trudeau grew after the party lost two of its most secure parliamentary seats in snap elections in June and September. Some lawmakers are also unhappy with what they complain is the poor state of preparations for the next election.
Liberal backbencher John McKay said the conversation was frank. Fellow Liberal Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said Trudeau still has time to turn things around.
“It’s very important when you have so many colleagues expressing frustration … that feedback is listened to,” he told reporters, saying Trudeau should come back to lawmakers with a plan.
There is no mechanism to oust Trudeau. Unlike Australia, where leaders are elected by legislatures, Canadian party leaders are elected by members of a special convention.
A Nanos Research poll released on October 15 put the Conservatives at 39 percent public support, with the Liberals at 23 percent and the rival left-wing New Democrats at 21 percent. Such a result on Election Day would give the Conservatives a comfortable majority.
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