Maverick MP Ken McDonald bows out of next election, with parting thoughts on Liberal woes
Newfoundland and Labrador MP Ken McDonald is closing the Ottawa chapter of his life, but he says it’s not due to problems plaguing the federal Liberals or clashes he’s had with his own caucus.
“I’ll finish up whenever the election is called. I’ll finish up and come home for a while,” McDonald told CBC News on Wednesday morning.
McDonald, who represents the Avalon riding, told CBC’s Power & Politics on Tuesday he won’t run again for the Liberals. He said he and his wife decided it was time for him to retire from federal politics.
He said he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership needs to be examined, even though he thinks time may be running out for a new leader to turn around the party’s fortunes before the next election, expected in 2025.
“I can’t think of anyone that would probably come in and do a better job,” said McDonald, who was first elected in 2015. “I don’t know if that’s possible, because time is getting short now for the next election.”
Tough time for Liberals
Last week, the Liberals lost a byelection Toronto-St. Paul, which had been a long-standing Liberal seat, to the Conservatives. Since the defeat, some MPs have called Trudeau’s leadership into question
In an email to the Liberal caucus, Liberal MP Wayne Long of New Brunswick called on Trudeau to resign as leader, with McDonald replying in an email with, “Well said!”
Asked about the exchange, McDonald said he doesn’t know the country needs a different prime minister.
“But what we do need is a national caucus meeting, in person, for people to be able to speak their minds and hash it out as a caucus.”
That’s where they could talk about whether Trudeau should stay on or hold a leadership review, he added.
“A lot of people are nervous right now. I’ve talked to colleagues from the Toronto area, and they are very nervous for the next election. And so they should be after what happened in St. Paul’s, one of the safest seats in the country,” he said.
In the past, McDonald has publicly clashed with his party.
After at least nine Liberal MPs signed a letter calling for an in-person caucus meeting to discuss the party’s Toronto-St. Paul’s byelection loss, Newfoundland and Labrador MP Ken McDonald and deputy government House leader Mark Gerretsen share their views on Justin Trudeau’s leadership with Power & Politics.
Last year, he voted in favour of a Conservative non-binding motion to repeal all carbon taxes, the only member of the Liberal caucus to do so.
At the time, he said he believed the policy would cost the party votes in the next election, particularly in Atlantic Canada.
Earlier this year, he called for a leadership review for Trudeau. In a statement the next day, he walked that back, calling Trudeau “a smart politician, a great campaigner.”
“I know he still has the best interest of Canadians at heart,” he said at the time.
During a vote in the House of Commons, he made a gesture with his finger that opposition members said was rude.
As he plans to leave federal politics behind, McDonald has some advice for anyone considering running in politics: “Be true to your constituents,” he said.
“You’ve still got to be a caucus guy but I’ve been able to vote opposite of government several times.… And I’ve done that without any repercussions.”
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