Calls for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign as Liberal leader have mounted, reports said, citing the growing discontent of the party. In a closed-door caucus of Liberal MPs on Parliament Hill, some dissenting voices were heard, marked change in party dynamics.
The meeting, one of a series of weekly caucus meetings when the House of Commons is in session, allowed MPs to voice their concerns and frustrations firsthand to Trudeau himself. Meanwhile, pressure is piled on the Prime Minister as some dissident MPs have made an ultimatum for him to decide on his future by October 28. Though the reasons for Trudeau’s resignation were stated in the document presented during the meeting, no consequence was said if he failed to meet the deadline.
Sources with Radio-Canada said 24 MPs signed the call for Trudeau’s resignation. In the meantime, MP Patrick Weiler from British Columbia tabled a document stating that the Liberal Party could see a resurrection in fortunes after it was suggested that U.S. President Joe Biden would not be seeking re-election.
During the three-hour meeting, MPs were granted two minutes each to address the room. About 20 MPs- none of them cabinet ministers- pleaded with Trudeau to step down ahead of the next election. Several others also came forward in defense of the Prime Minister.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller did acknowledge the frustrations among some Liberal MPs and respected those who voiced their concerns. “This has been simmering for some time, and people need to express it. This isn’t a code-red situation. The Prime Minister can certainly handle the truth,” Miller said.
The rising confrontation between India and Canada has only widened the political fault lines in Canada. Relations started to deteriorate after Trudeau accused the Indian government in Parliament last year of having “credible allegations” over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. For its part, India has denied the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated,” accusing Canada of giving shelter to extremist elements.
Najjar was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020. He was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey last June. Canada labeled the High Commissioner of India and several other diplomats as persons of interest in the investigation over his death, further heightening the diplomatic feud.
