Ontario Liberal MPs want Justin Trudeau to step down: sources

After a virtual meeting of the Ontario Liberal caucus on Saturday morning, it was revealed that more than 50 Liberal MPs have come to a consensus that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should step down as party leader. The sources speaking to CBC News requested anonymity to freely discuss the private discussions that took place during the meeting.

Following Chrystia Freeland’s dramatic resignation from cabinet on Monday, which included a pointed public departure letter, a fresh wave of Liberal MPs have joined the call for Trudeau to resign. The prime minister is reportedly reflecting on his political future in light of these events.

At the conclusion of the Saturday meeting, Ontario caucus chair Michael Coteau was tasked with conveying the message to Trudeau and the Prime Minister’s Office that he needs to step down. While there was no set deadline for this communication to occur, MPs hope it will happen soon.

During the meeting, different perspectives were offered on how long Trudeau should be allowed to reflect on his future before facing further pressure. One participant even raised concerns about the potential for chaos if Trudeau were to step aside as U.S. president-elect Donald Trump was inaugurated.

It was disclosed that 51 MPs participated in the call, representing a majority of the Ontario caucus’s 75 members. Sources also mentioned that Freeland was present during the meeting but remained silent as the discussion on the party’s leadership unfolded.

Since Freeland’s resignation, two Liberal MPs, Sean Casey and Chandra Arya, have publicly expressed support for a potential Freeland leadership bid. Arya even wrote a letter to Trudeau acknowledging Freeland as a credible alternative to his leadership.

In response to the conversation, Ontario Liberal MP Julie Dzerowicz defended Trudeau, stating that he has been listening to caucus members. She also cautioned against breaching caucus confidentiality by discussing any consensus reached during the meeting.

Salma Zahid, another Liberal MP, emphasized that recent events have heightened concerns among caucus members but refrained from disclosing further details due to caucus confidentiality. She expressed readiness for next year’s election, hinting at the possibility of it taking place sooner than expected.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Trudeau will respond to the mounting pressure from within his own party to step down as leader. Stay tuned for further developments on this evolving story.