Several Liberal backbench MPs have expressed support for Chrystia Freeland to succeed Justin Trudeau as leader and prime minister of Canada, but not everyone is in agreement. Some ministers, such as Kamal Khera and Patty Hajdu, have criticized Freeland for her resignation letter, which they see as undermining the Prime Minister and the government. Despite this, Khera defended Trudeau, stating that the majority of MPs remain focused on important work and not on personal agendas. There have been calls for Trudeau to step down as leader, with some MPs believing that Freeland’s departure was a result of the Prime Minister losing confidence in her.
During a virtual caucus meeting, some Ontario Liberal MPs expressed their discontent with Trudeau’s leadership, with some even suggesting that he should not lead the party into the next election. Nate Erskine-Smith, who was appointed to cabinet, publicly criticized Trudeau’s leadership shortly after his appointment. However, some MPs voiced concerns about his comments being leaked to reporters. The Ontario caucus, consisting of 75 MPs, will be assessing recent events and determining their next steps. There is a split among MPs on who should succeed Trudeau, with some supporting Dominic LeBlanc as a better match for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Despite the calls for Freeland to become leader, a close source to her stated that her resignation was due to the loss of confidence from the Prime Minister, and not a move to position herself as leader. Some Ontario Liberal MPs admire Freeland but others believe LeBlanc would be a better match for the current political climate. There is also a desire for a centrist leader, as some MPs feel that Trudeau has moved the party too far to the left. Rob Oliphant expressed frustration with Trudeau not listening to the views of caucus members, leading him to publicly express the unanimous view of his riding executive that Trudeau should step down.
Michael Coteau, who chairs the Ontario caucus, was tasked with informing the Prime Minister about the views of the caucus regarding his leadership. However, there are concerns that Trudeau may not be open to hearing these opinions, and that the message may be intercepted by his chief of staff. Some MPs have expressed concerns about the lack of communication within the caucus and have resorted to speaking to reporters about normally confidential information. The Liberal caucus is divided on how to proceed following recent events, with differing opinions on who should lead the party and the importance of unity within the government.
