Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finds himself in an increasingly vulnerable position, as nearly one-third of his Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed dissent against him, according to a recent report.
Trudeau’s challenges began in September when the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Jagmeet Singh, withdrew its support. The situation escalated further with the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland last week, which has triggered a new wave of crisis for his administration. Following Freeland’s departure, there have been growing demands among Trudeau’s Liberal Party MPs for him to step down.
In light of these developments, CBC News has indicated that at least 51 Liberal MPs are calling for Trudeau’s resignation.
Among the 75 Liberal MPs from Ontario, CBC reported that 51 participated in a virtual meeting over the weekend, where they collectively agreed on the necessity of Trudeau’s resignation.
In the wake of Freeland’s resignation, speculation has arisen that Trudeau may be contemplating either his own resignation or the prorogation of Parliament, potentially leading to early elections. While Canada is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections by October 2025, Trudeau might opt for snap elections to preempt the humiliation of being ousted by his own party members.
Since assuming office in 2015, Trudeau’s popularity has significantly declined. Recent Ipsos polls indicate that Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party’s candidate for prime minister, currently holds a 25 percent advantage over him.
Dissenting Members of Parliament Convey Message to Trudeau: Report
The Members of Parliament who participated in the virtual meeting over the weekend have assigned Ontario caucus chair Michael Coteau the responsibility of relaying to Trudeau and the Prime Minister’s Office that he should resign, as reported by CBC.
One MP informed the outlet that while they are advocating for Trudeau’s resignation, they have not established a specific deadline for him to step down.
There are indications that the MPs are considering replacing Trudeau with Freeland as the leader of the Liberal Party. Following her resignation, at least two MPs—Sean Casey and Chandra Arya—have expressed their support for Freeland as a candidate for prime minister.
“Although I was disheartened by the timing of her announcement, I must recognize her remarkable political insight. Whether intentional or coincidental, she has positioned herself as a credible and stable alternative to your leadership,” Arya stated in a letter to Trudeau, according to the outlet.
It is noteworthy that the dissent against Trudeau has originated in Ontario, Canada’s largest province. Of the 337 seats in the Canadian parliament, Ontario holds the highest number at 121, with the Liberals occupying 75 of these seats. Currently, Trudeau is leading a minority government following the NDP’s withdrawal of support, as the Liberals possess only 153 seats—16 seats short of the majority threshold of 169.
