Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to meet with a concerned and tense caucus in British Columbia on Monday. MPs are eager for him to unveil his strategy to address the ongoing political challenges the party has been facing for months.
Following the loss of a long-held political stronghold in Toronto last June, several Liberal MPs, both publicly and privately, called for a caucus meeting. However, the prime minister chose not to convene the caucus until the fall.
Throughout the summer, the party’s political fortunes did not improve, and this week brought two more significant setbacks: the NDP’s sudden withdrawal from the political agreement that had prevented an early election, and the resignation of the Liberals’ national campaign director.
With two upcoming byelections on Sept. 16 and a general election on the horizon, some caucus members are anxiously awaiting a plan from the prime minister and his team to help secure their seats.
The Liberals have been struggling in the polls for over a year now, as the Conservatives under Pierre Poilievre have capitalized on nationwide concerns about inflation, cost of living, and housing availability.
While Trudeau has not yet addressed all MPs collectively, he has engaged with them in smaller groups in June and July and attended several regional caucus meetings leading up to the Nanaimo retreat.
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“We’re focused on delivering for Canadians,” Trudeau stated at a Quebec Liberal caucus meeting on Thursday.
He outlined various programs in progress, such as a national school food program, $10-a-day childcare, and national coverage for insulin and contraceptives, developed in partnership with the NDP.
“These initiatives are important for Canadians,” he emphasized, while accusing the NDP of prioritizing politics over the people.
Wayne Long, a Liberal MP from New Brunswick, expressed concern that Canadians may be tuning out the prime minister.
In the aftermath of the byelection loss in Toronto-St. Paul’s, Long was the only Liberal member to publicly call for Trudeau’s resignation, although others privately shared similar sentiments at the time.
Long reiterated his concerns to the prime minister at the Atlantic caucus retreat before Monday’s meeting.
“I’m concerned that sticking to the old ‘stay calm and carry on’ approach, which is where we currently stand, will not lead us to victory in the next election,” Long, who does not intend to run again, remarked.
He fears that a Trudeau-led campaign could result in a Poilievre government dismantling the prime minister’s legacy over the past nine years.
Long is among the Liberal MPs who confirmed they will not attend the meeting in Nanaimo. However, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, often mentioned as a potential successor to Trudeau as Liberal leader, will be present.
Carney is expected to address MPs on economic matters and growth strategies.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s decision to withdraw from the supply and confidence deal complicates any calls for the prime minister to step down and make way for a new leader to challenge Poilievre in the upcoming election, which could happen at any time.
“This situation has become much more delicate, as Singh likely holds the power to determine the timing of the election,” noted Andrew Perez, a long-time Liberal strategist who had also called for Trudeau’s resignation earlier in the summer.
While some caucus members express frustration with the current political challenges, Long maintains that those planning to run again are not yet discouraged.
Regarding the members of the Atlantic caucus, he stated, “They are all ready to fight. They are prepared to move forward.”
Please rewrite this sentence for me.
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