Trudeau says many discussions underway after surprise byelection defeat
The last weeks crushing defeat in by-elections in a Toronto riding has sparked “a lot of conversation” within the Liberal PartyPrime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday, as questions also swirl around his political future.
Since the Conservatives’ surprise victory in Toronto-St. Paul’s — a Liberal stronghold for more than three decades — Trudeau said the party has “engaged in many important conversations.”
“Let’s be very clear, the byelection loss last week, without sugarcoating it, was difficult, it’s something we have to take seriously,” he told reporters in Montreal, Que., where he made an announcement about community infrastructure.
“We had many important conversations,” Trudeau said.
“I’ve had many calls with different members of caucus, from across the country, not just the Greater Toronto Area, to talk about how we make sure that we continue to work to connect with Canadians to continue to meet people’s needs.”
Trudeau’s comments on Wednesday come as some Liberal MPs and a former cabinet minister have called for his resignation in recent days. following the disrupted by-elections.
“These are the things we need to continue to focus on as Canadians face challenging times right now and we will continue to do so,” the Prime Minister said.
He calls for Trudeau’s resignation
Last week, Backbencher Wayne Long He said it was time for the Liberal Party to find a new leader.
Long said in an email to the party caucus obtained by Global News that “new leadership” was needed.
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“For the future of our party and for the good of our country, we need new leadership and new direction,” Long wrote. “Voters have made it clear they want change. I agree.”
Ken McDonald, a Liberal MP from Newfoundland and Labrador, in a separate response to Long’s post, appeared to echo his comments, saying only “well said.”
These feelings were shared on Friday. by Catherine McKenna, former Liberal MP and environment minister who served under Trudeau.
She said in a statement to Global News that “the Liberal Party is not just about one person.”
Within caucus, Trudeau said “the conversations we’re all having as Liberals are going to continue.”
“As always, there are a range of perspectives and voices within the Liberal Party, and it’s really, really important that we listen to all of those voices and give them the time to express themselves,” Trudeau said.
When asked by reporters if he would hold an urgent in-person national caucus meeting, Trudeau responded: “I will continue to engage, to talk and listen, to meet with all my MPs across the country to discuss how we can both understand what we need to improve, given the by-election loss last week, but also how we can continue to be there for Canadians in a really important moment.”
Support for Trudeau and his party is low among Canadians, according to a recent poll.
An Ipsos poll conducted exclusively for Global News last month found that support for him is near “rock bottom,” with nearly seven in 10 Canadians saying it is time for Trudeau to resign.
The poll, conducted among 1,001 Canadians between June 12 and 14, also found that 75 per cent of Canadians want another party to take over from the Liberals.
— with information from Touria Izri of Global News
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
