Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his party is “united” after a caucus meeting discussing his leadership, but comments from some Liberals point to tensions not having been resolved.
Pressure had been building in recent days ahead of the Oct. 23 Liberal caucus meeting, the first attended by Trudeau in three weeks after a break in the House of Commons and his trip to Asia. Word had leaked out that some MPs were mounting an effort to ask him to resign.
Upon exiting the meeting, Trudeau didn’t stop to talk to reporters, saying only that “the Liberal Party is strong and united.”
Many Liberal MPs also said they would not talk about the nature of the internal discussions, while others did offer hints about what took place. Asked if the party is more united after the meeting, some MPs spoke more of a need to rally against a common enemy than to stand behind a leader they all support.
“We as a party have to stay united, recognize that the real threat is Pierre Poilievre, and what is going to take place should he become the leader is also a problem,” said Charles Sousa, MP for Mississauga-Lakeshore.
Sousa said Trudeau told the caucus he’s “made very clear that he feels he’s the right choice and he appreciates all of what is being said, because he’s reflecting on what is being done across Canada.”
“So I respect his decision, whatever that may be,” Sousa said, without specifying whether Trudeau suggested he was reflecting on his future. “The prime minister is the man who is in charge, and he'll make whatever decision he sees right.”
Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who also serves as Liberal campaign co-chair, said caucus is sometimes a place for “tough conversations” but that “one thing that we are united on—everybody—is beating Poilievre.”
Conservative Leader Poilievre and his team have polled much higher than the Liberals for an extended period, suggesting they could win a majority. The Conservatives’ messaging has centred on improving affordability, abolishing the carbon tax, and reducing crime.
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith told reporters after the caucus meeting that the party is not united in a way such that they’re all “singing from the same song sheet on every single issue.” He said, however, it is “certainly united in the sense that we want what’s best for this country and we want to put our best foot forward in the next election.”
Erskine-Smith said his message to caucus was that Trudeau has to listen to “really valid frustrations” from members and make some changes.
“It’s up to the prime minister to reflect on everything he’s heard and to come back to caucus, not only with a plan, but also to express to caucus how have my colleagues been listened to,” said the Toronto MP, who represents the Beaches-East York riding.
Erskine-Smith said he also told his colleagues in caucus to “turn the knives outwards and not inwards” and to rally in the fight against Poilievre.
PEI MP Sean Casey, one of the rare Liberal MPs to have publicly called for Trudeau to step down, offered a simple “no” when asked by reporters whether he could clarify where things stood after the caucus meeting.
Casey had told reporters on Oct. 21 that Canadians are no longer listening to Trudeau. “There’s been baggage accumulated. People have tuned him out,” he said.
Newfoundland and Labrador MP Ken McDonald, who will not be running in the next election, said on Oct. 23 that he is one of the MPs who signed a letter presented to Trudeau at the meeting that day. Caucus members have been careful not to reveal what the letter exactly says.
New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, who has also publicly called for Trudeau to step down, also didn’t talk to reporters on Oct. 23.
“We still have some stuff to sort out, but I think it was a great conversation,” he said of the caucus meeting. “People were honest and weren’t doing it as a whisper campaign.”
Miller, like every other cabinet minister speaking publicly on the issue, has voiced his support for Trudeau.
The prime minister has faced increasing discontent within Liberal ranks since the byelection loss of a Toronto stronghold in June. This was followed by the loss of another stronghold last month, in a byelection in Montreal.
Some MPs have grown restless given that they may be facing a losing prospect in the upcoming federal election where there could be few safe Liberal seats.
Trudeau has weathered the setbacks and has so far remained committed to lead his party into the next election, scheduled for October 2025.
