Trudeau Says Not the Time to Discuss Caucus Revolt Amid India Spat

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference in Vientiane, Laos, on Oct. 11, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau downplayed reports of a revolt from within the Liberal caucus, saying MPs should be focused on supporting Canada during its diplomatic rift with India.

“There will be time to talk about internal party intrigue at another moment, but right now, this government, and indeed all parliamentarians, should be focused on standing up for Canada’s sovereignty, standing against interference, and looking to be there to support Canadians in this difficult moment,” Trudeau told reporters during an Oct. 14 press conference.

During the press conference, Trudeau said he had spoken with several caucus members over the last few days, and they had been focused on the well-being and safety of Canadians amid a growing diplomatic row with India. Trudeau told reporters that Canadian officials had met with Indian officials over the weekend to share RCMP evidence that six agents of the Indian government are persons of interest in criminal activities.

Trudeau’s comments about “internal party intrigue” came amid reports that a number of Liberal MPs have teamed up to attempt to remove Trudeau as leader of the party.

The Liberal Party has been lagging behind the Conservatives in polls for over a year, and recent byelection losses in the ridings of Toronto—St. Paul’s and LaSalle—Émard—Verdun in Montreal, which had previously been Liberal strongholds, have raised further concerns about how the party will perform in the next election.

In response to previous calls from current and former Liberal MPs to step down, Trudeau had said he has no intention of leaving the job.

Expulsion of Diplomats

Earlier in the day, India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced it was expelling Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler and five other Canadian diplomats. This came hours after Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced Canada was expelling six Indian diplomats in relation to a “targeted campaign against Canadian citizens” by agents linked to the Indian government.

The RCMP also held a press conference on Oct. 14 where they accused Indian agents of being involved in “serious criminal activity.” The national police force said since September 2023, at least 13 people had their lives threatened, with members of the pro-Khalistan movement being the targets.

RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme said the police force had obtained evidence that the Indian government was linked to homicide, coercion, and extortion in Canada, and that despite law enforcement’s efforts, “the harm has continued, posing a serious threat to our public safety.”

India has rejected the accusations, saying it should be ascribed to the “political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics.”