Trudeau has been under pressure to either step down or make some significant changes
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is refusing to commit to holding a national caucus meeting to let his MPs air their grievances about the Liberals’ stunning defeat in Toronto —St. Paul’s last week, arguing he has already heard from many of them.
Speaking in Montreal, Trudeau said he has had many conversations in recent days with members of his caucus from across the country and held a meeting with members of his caucus executive on Tuesday. And the consensus seems to be to keep calm and carry on.
“The conversations I’ve had with Liberals from across this country confirm that our priority should be to continue to deliver for Canadians,” he said in French on Wednesday.
Trudeau has been under pressure to either step down or make some significant changes to prevent his party from getting wiped off the electoral map in the next election, and those calls have only gotten more persistent as Liberal MPs share their grievances.
Other MPs have called for a major cabinet shuffle or changes in Trudeau’s team.
But numerous other Liberal ministers and MPs have openly said they support the prime minister and that he is best placed to run against the Conservatives.
Trudeau hinted that the consensus from MPs seems to be that he should stay on.
“In the past week, I’ve had many conversations, and I will continue to have many conversations,” he said.
“I am currently listening to the entire caucus — not just those talking to the media.”
Trudeau has mostly avoided media’s questions in the past week, since his party narrowly lost the riding of Toronto—St. Paul’s which it held onto for the past 30 years. Wednesday’s announcement in Montreal was his first media availability where he discussed the results.
“Let’s be very clear. Last week’s byelection loss — not to sugarcoat it — was challenging, was something we need to take seriously,” he said.
“I’ve had lots of calls with different members of caucus from across the country, not just in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), to talk about how we make sure we’re continuing our work, connecting with Canadians to make sure we’re continuing to deliver for people.”
Trudeau said there is “a range of perspectives and voices within the Liberal party, and listening to all those voices and giving them all time to engage is really, really important, and that’s what we’ve been doing and it’s what I’m planning to continue to do.”
He emphasized that caucus members will always express “different opinions” about issues of the day and that is one of his party’s “strengths.”
But Trudeau sidestepped repeated questions about holding a national caucus meeting.
“I will continue to engage, to talk and to listen, to meet with all my MPs from across the country, to talk about how we can both understand what we need to improve on, given last week’s byelection defeat, but also how we continue to be there for Canadians,” he said.
Referring to the rise of the far-right in France and the possible return of Donald Trump in the United States, Trudeau said there are “increasing challenges to people’s well-being, greater anxieties, an erosion of democratic principles and rights” in democracies.
“This is a really important time for governments to step up and deliver concretely, for citizens, to restore and encourage faith in the institutions that are there, to deliver things,” he said, referring to his party’s promises on child care, dental care, and housing.
“These are the things that actually matter for Canadians. These are the things that we are focused on as a team,” he said.
It is unclear for now what, if anything, Liberal MPs can do about Trudeau’s leadership.
Trudeau’s office confirmed on Tuesday the prime minister will not be attending the Calgary Stampede, which would involve him interacting with Chahal. Trudeau will however fly to Washington D.C. next week for the NATO Summit and to meet U.S. representatives.
National Post
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