Calls for Secret Ballot on Trudeau's Leadership Surface
A Liberal lawmaker advocates for a vote, stating, “That would help us as a party move beyond this.”
TroibNews 
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserts that the Liberal Party is united, yet some backbenchers are pressing him to demonstrate this unity.
During the caucus meeting on Wednesday, Trudeau will face demands for a secret ballot vote on his leadership.
“I think it would put this to rest,” said Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi. “We need to have finality … that would help us as a party move beyond this.”
This latest push follows a closed-door meeting on October 23, during which Trudeau was confronted by numerous party members expressing their desire for him to step aside. Longstanding party members have also suggested that resigning would benefit both his legacy and the party's future.
Supporters of Trudeau, including Cabinet members, claim that last week’s tensions have been resolved. They emphasize that the Liberal team is primarily focused on defeating their main opposition, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
“This is largely settled,” Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson remarked this week. “We’re united and we’re going to move on.”
A caucus vote on Wednesday could challenge this perception, making it improbable that it will take place.
“The prime minister and his team have said on a number of occasions, in different ways, that the prime minister enjoys the support of the vast majority of caucus, so to me that suggests he shouldn’t have any concerns about holding a secret ballot,” noted Liberal MP Yvan Baker.
The three-time prime minister is currently struggling in the polls and has faced weeks of opposition from caucus members looking to unseat him.
Trudeau has not only resisted calls for change; he has also reaffirmed his commitment.
“I am determined to lead this party into the next election,” Trudeau stated during an October 25 appearance on the “Inside the Village” podcast, just two days after the contentious meeting. “I’m actually really excited about this fight.”
The forthcoming political landscape might shift quickly.
Amid the unrest within the Liberal Party, opposition parties in the House of Commons are strategizing to destabilize the minority government, which could lead to an election before the year's end.
“He’s convinced he’s the right guy. I think he’s getting bad advice,” expressed Sean Casey, another Liberal who has publicly voiced his concerns.
Managing dissent among party members is becoming increasingly challenging for Trudeau and his advisers.
Liberal MP Ken McDonald revealed that he was urged to withdraw his earlier public calls for a leadership review in January. Although he has decided not to run again, McDonald believes a leadership change is necessary.
A leadership vote remains unlikely because the Liberal Party lacks the mechanism to enforce one, just as there are no means to force Trudeau's removal.
The prime minister’s chief advisers have alternate plans for the caucus, with Andrew Bevan, the new campaign director, expected to outline his strategy for the next election.
Members will also learn that the party is formulating attack ads to counter Poilievre’s narrative. According to filings with Elections Canada, the Conservative Party allocated over C$8.5 million for advertising in 2023, in stark contrast to the Liberals' C$381,000 during the same period.
“Yes we need to make significant changes in how we engage with Canadians over the coming months, but that is part and parcel of what an election campaign is,” Trudeau said in a recent interview.
Last week, he received a statement signed by 24 MPs urging him to reconsider his leadership and resign. Additionally, a grassroots movement is now circulating a petition for leadership change within the broader party. Documents obtained by PMG indicate another faction encouraging Liberal riding associations to support reform efforts within the caucus.
Trudeau remains steadfast.
“I reminded all my colleagues who got elected first in 2015 that they signed up to run for the distant third place party in the House of Commons, a long way from ever being able to form government in the eyes of every pundit and every pollster out there,” Trudeau commented during his podcast appearance.
Some party members advocating for Trudeau's departure acknowledge that change may not happen overnight.
“There’s no knockout punch with the current prime minister,” said one lawmaker who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “It’s going to be many initiatives.”
James del Carmen for TROIB News
During the caucus meeting on Wednesday, Trudeau will face demands for a secret ballot vote on his leadership.
“I think it would put this to rest,” said Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi. “We need to have finality … that would help us as a party move beyond this.”
This latest push follows a closed-door meeting on October 23, during which Trudeau was confronted by numerous party members expressing their desire for him to step aside. Longstanding party members have also suggested that resigning would benefit both his legacy and the party's future.
Supporters of Trudeau, including Cabinet members, claim that last week’s tensions have been resolved. They emphasize that the Liberal team is primarily focused on defeating their main opposition, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
“This is largely settled,” Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson remarked this week. “We’re united and we’re going to move on.”
A caucus vote on Wednesday could challenge this perception, making it improbable that it will take place.
“The prime minister and his team have said on a number of occasions, in different ways, that the prime minister enjoys the support of the vast majority of caucus, so to me that suggests he shouldn’t have any concerns about holding a secret ballot,” noted Liberal MP Yvan Baker.
The three-time prime minister is currently struggling in the polls and has faced weeks of opposition from caucus members looking to unseat him.
Trudeau has not only resisted calls for change; he has also reaffirmed his commitment.
“I am determined to lead this party into the next election,” Trudeau stated during an October 25 appearance on the “Inside the Village” podcast, just two days after the contentious meeting. “I’m actually really excited about this fight.”
The forthcoming political landscape might shift quickly.
Amid the unrest within the Liberal Party, opposition parties in the House of Commons are strategizing to destabilize the minority government, which could lead to an election before the year's end.
“He’s convinced he’s the right guy. I think he’s getting bad advice,” expressed Sean Casey, another Liberal who has publicly voiced his concerns.
Managing dissent among party members is becoming increasingly challenging for Trudeau and his advisers.
Liberal MP Ken McDonald revealed that he was urged to withdraw his earlier public calls for a leadership review in January. Although he has decided not to run again, McDonald believes a leadership change is necessary.
A leadership vote remains unlikely because the Liberal Party lacks the mechanism to enforce one, just as there are no means to force Trudeau's removal.
The prime minister’s chief advisers have alternate plans for the caucus, with Andrew Bevan, the new campaign director, expected to outline his strategy for the next election.
Members will also learn that the party is formulating attack ads to counter Poilievre’s narrative. According to filings with Elections Canada, the Conservative Party allocated over C$8.5 million for advertising in 2023, in stark contrast to the Liberals' C$381,000 during the same period.
“Yes we need to make significant changes in how we engage with Canadians over the coming months, but that is part and parcel of what an election campaign is,” Trudeau said in a recent interview.
Last week, he received a statement signed by 24 MPs urging him to reconsider his leadership and resign. Additionally, a grassroots movement is now circulating a petition for leadership change within the broader party. Documents obtained by PMG indicate another faction encouraging Liberal riding associations to support reform efforts within the caucus.
Trudeau remains steadfast.
“I reminded all my colleagues who got elected first in 2015 that they signed up to run for the distant third place party in the House of Commons, a long way from ever being able to form government in the eyes of every pundit and every pollster out there,” Trudeau commented during his podcast appearance.
Some party members advocating for Trudeau's departure acknowledge that change may not happen overnight.
“There’s no knockout punch with the current prime minister,” said one lawmaker who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “It’s going to be many initiatives.”
James del Carmen for TROIB News
