OTAWA –
The Atlantic Liberal caucus is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign as party leader in a letter expressing “deep concern” about the future of the government.
The letter dated Dec. 23 was shared publicly on Sunday by New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, who has been saying since the fall that Trudeau should resign.
Long wrote in a Facebook post that he shared the letter calling for “openness and transparency.”
“If we want to have any chance in the next election and prevent a Pierre Poilievre government, we need new leadership with a new vision for our party and the country,” Long wrote.
Atlantic Caucus chair and Nova Scotia MP Kody Blois wrote the letter, saying it is no longer “sustainable” for Trudeau to continue leading the party.
The letter notes that the country faces “instability” amid tariff threats from US President-elect Donald Trump and signals from opposition parties that they will declare no confidence in Trudeau’s government at the first opportunity.
The letter thanks Trudeau for his nine years of service as prime minister and says he leaves a “positive and consequential legacy.” He warns Trudeau that this could be undone if he remains leader.
The letter comes less than two weeks after Chrystia Freeland resigned from Trudeau’s cabinet as finance minister and deputy prime minister.
“Our colleagues this morning expressed their deep personal affection for you, their pride in our work as a Liberal team, but also their deep concern that without a change in leadership that progress will be lost under a government led by Pierre Poilievre,” Blois wrote to Trudeau.
The letter concludes with a call for a national group meeting in early January so Liberal MPs can discuss their next steps.
Blois did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trudeau is said to be thinking about his future over the holidays.
Conservative MP John Williamson said on Friday he plans to table a no-confidence motion at the public accounts committee’s next meeting on January 7.
If that motion succeeds in committee, it will be sent to the House of Commons and could be voted on as early as Jan. 30, triggering an election if passed.
The Conservatives tabled three no-confidence motions during the fall session of the House of Commons, which the Liberals survived thanks to NDP support.
However, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh now says his party has lost confidence in the government and intends to table a no-confidence motion in the new year, regardless of who is the Liberal leader.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024.
