Some Liberal MPs disappointed by Trudeau saying so quickly that he's staying
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is digging in, saying “yes,” he’s staying on as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
His assertion comes less than 24 hours after telling his MPs that he’d reflect on his future in the face of a deadline imposed by defectors in his caucus, and that’s left some feeling “disappointed.”
"We're going to continue and have… great discussions about how I can best lead the Liberal party forward,” Trudeau told reporters on Thursday, facing questions about an emotionally charged caucus meeting the day prior.
"We're focused on winning the next election, and we've got a great team around us to do it,” he said, backed by Liberal MPs.
But despite his efforts to show a united front, Trudeau came out of Wednesday’s meeting staring down an Oct. 28 deadline delivered by more than 20 disaffected Liberal MPs, who told him they want a new leader.
With Trudeau now clearly brushing that timeline aside, less than 24 hours after telling his caucus he’d reflect on what he heard, some Liberal MPs who called for his resignation are questioning the sincerity of that pledge.
'I think he needs to reflect more'
Asked if he thought his leader took enough time to consider next steps, Liberal MP Sean Casey said “no.”
“But I don't think that he felt that he needed to reflect at all. I think his mind was made up,” Casey said. “Disappointed.”
Still hoping to run again in a seat he’s held for more than a decade, the member of Parliament for Charlottetown, P.E.I. said that while he thinks Trudeau is seeing something that his constituents don’t see, going forward, he’s going to focus his energy on getting re-elected.
“He listened but he wasn't swayed... I don't think that having this feeding frenzy for another two or three days would have helped anyone if his mind was made up anyway. So, it is what it is... Me personally, I'm moving on. There's so much energy burned on all of this,” he said.
Patrick Weiler, the Liberal MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, B.C., said he wasn’t surprised that Trudeau said he is staying on. If he had said anything else, he’d “be a lame duck prime minister,” Weiler added.
Though, Weiler said it’ll be up to Trudeau to show that he can win.
“The ball is in his court, and I know there’s a lot of unanswered questions that a lot of caucus will be very keen to hear,” he said.
Saint John-Rothesay, N.B. MP Wayne Long, who has already said he’s not running again, said he was expecting Trudeau to take the weekend to consider next steps before coming back to his caucus on Monday with an answer.
“I'm just personally disappointed that it’s less than really 20 hours after many of us told him he had to, or thought he needed to step down,” Long said. “He told us he would reflect. It's a pretty quick reflection and I think he needs to reflect more.”
Frustrated MPs talking to Conservatives?
Long said that while he respects Trudeau, the party needs a new leader to put its best foot forward against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
These MPs’ comments come amid swirling suggestions that some are considering voting with the opposition on big issues, if Trudeau doesn’t resign.
Asked what conversations he’s been party to, Poilievre said he’s talked to “numerous Liberal MPs.”
“Some of them say that they're worried that the carbon tax will cost them their seats,” Poilievre said. “And some of them might even be willing to vote non-confidence in Justin Trudeau if that issue comes up again.”
Casey and other MPs poured cold water on the Official Opposition leader’s claim, saying they hope their colleagues have better judgement.
“Every single colleague that I have talked to thinks that Pierre Poilievre in the prime minister's office would be a bad thing. Anything that we do that makes that more likely, is dumb,” Casey said.
Trudeau facing pressure on other fronts
This infighting comes amid a separate effort brewing among some grassroots Liberals who are circulating a “code red” petition, calling on the party's national executive and caucus to organize a secret ballot on the leadership question.
Adding to the pressure the prime minister is facing, the deadline for Trudeau to get back to his team was set for one day before the Bloc Quebecois’ ultimatum is set to expire.
If the Liberals don’t ensure a pair of Bloc bills get through a currently logjammed Parliament by Oct. 29, Yves-Francois Blanchet has said he’ll start talking to the other opposition parties about bringing down the government.
So even if Trudeau can corral his caucus, his minority government’s grip on power could be in peril.
“If there is a weakened Liberal party, both the Bloc and the NDP might have an incentive to bring the government down,” said political analyst Lori Williams.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Frozen waffles from Whole Foods join Canadian recall list over listeria concerns
Whole Foods Market is joining the growing list of brands whose frozen waffles have been recalled in Canada this week because of possible listeria contamination.
Lawsuit alleges Ontario man died after given 10 times prescribed dose in hospital
Angela Salvatore had been away from her father's hospital bedside for just over an hour when she says she got a frantic call from a nurse, pleading with her to calm him down.
Trump leaves Michigan rallygoers waiting in the cold for hours to tape Joe Rogan podcast
Many of Donald Trump’s supporters left a Michigan rally before he arrived after the former U.S. president kept them waiting for three hours to tape a popular podcast interview.
What we know about the Canadians busted in an international drug ring led by a former Olympic athlete
Canadian Ryan James Wedding finished in 24th place in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but the snowboarder wouldn’t go on to improve his results in Torino four years later.
'Did he live? Did he die?': A decades-old mystery stretching from Manitoba to Ireland
The mystery of a 100-year-old letter sent from Manitoba to Ireland is slowly unraveling thanks to the work of one amateur sleuth.
How will the U.S. election affect the way Canadians vote?
As months, become weeks, become days left before this U.S. election cycle comes to an end, here's a look at what each outcome might mean for Canadian politics.
She connected on Instagram with a guy who lived in another country. Then they decided to meet up
In early 2018, Amanda and Sunil started chatting, messaging back and forth on Instagram, introducing themselves and talking a little about their lives. Fast forward to August 2018, the couple got engaged on vacation in Thailand and a year later, after Amanda moved to India, got married.
Here's what buyers should know before making a used car purchase in Canada
Based on initial appearances, there are signs indicating the automobile industry is in healthy shape – for now.
'If it were me, I'd be leaving': Longtime Liberal New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna on whether Trudeau should go
Former New Brunswick Liberal premier Frank McKenna says if he were in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s shoes, at this point in the government’s mandate, he would step down.
Local Spotlight
Meet the rescued duck at a Manitoba farm who has waddled her way into the internet's heart
A new resident at a Manitoba animal rescue has waddled her way into people's hearts.
Runners try to 'Beat Beethoven' classics during unique Halifax race
Hundreds of people ran to the music of German composer and pianist Beethoven Wednesday night in a unique race in Halifax.
'Things are very hard here': Popular Toronto crossing guard asks community for help finding work
He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.
Sky over Lake Erie lights up with fireball as Orionid meteor shower peaks
A meteor lit up our region's sky last night – with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.
'Aggressive' wild turkey causing problems for residents in Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood
Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.
Man who died in floodwaters among 8 Nova Scotians awarded Medal of Bravery
A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.
Professional mountain biker attempts new world record in Winnipeg
A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.
'He's a hero': Father runs into burning home and emerges with two infant children
A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.
'I am humbled': Meet the 87-year-old Ontario woman who graduated from York University
Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.