A Liberal MP has said he thinks it’s time for the party to consider conducting a leadership review of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, citing what appears to be a “hatred out there right now” for the Liberal leader.
During an interview with Radio-Canada, Newfoundland MP Ken McDonald wouldn’t go as far as to say Trudeau should step down, but did express his desire for an organized review of Trudeau’s leadership within the party.
A review would allow party members to freely express themselves and for other MPs to come forward as potential candidates for the position.
“As a party, let’s clear the air and if people are still intent on having the leader we have now, fine. But at least give people the opportunity to have their say in what they think the direction the party is going,” said McDonald.
He credits Trudeau for the Liberals’ sweeping election win in 2015, the same year McDonald was first elected, but said that Canadians’ views of Trudeau have since shifted.
“In 2015, it was him that won the election. He won the government,” he said. “He convinced Canadians that this was the time to switch parties and put in a different government. I think Atlantic Canada is much the same as the rest of the country. There’s almost a hatred out there right now for Prime Minister Trudeau.”
McDonald hasn’t been afraid to go against the party grain in the past.
He was the subject of controversy last fall when he voted in favour of abolishing the carbon tax alongside the Conservatives, despite calls from the Prime Minister’s Office, telling him to get in line.
“Various ministers reached out to me. The whip had a meeting with me about this,” he said. “The pressure was intense, but I was determined to do it because I knew the people in my riding wanted me to go that way.”
McDonald believes that rural voters shouldn’t be hit with the carbon tax because they don’t have any alternate forms of transportation besides using their vehicles.
“With the population of Newfoundland, I don’t think we need to change behaviours because we don’t have a population big enough or condensed enough to cause an issue for climate change. We’re not the problem. It’s the densely populated areas that are the problem,” he said.
While Trudeau did agree to put a three-year pause on the carbon tax for home oil heating, McDonald doesn’t think it will be enough to salvage his image.
“People are maybe thinking it’s time for a change,” he said. “Every leader, every party has a best-before date. Our best-before date is here.”
Atlantic Canada has traditionally been favourable to the Liberals, with the party currently holding 24 of the 32 seats in the region, however, in 2015, they held all 32.
According to the latest poll from Abacus Data, the Conservatives now lead over the Liberals in Atlantic Canada by 12 points, meaning they are likely to lose more seats in the next election.
“My biggest fear is that we will lose the government and someone else takes power,” said McDonald, admitting that many constituents in his riding have told him that the party stands a better shot at re-election with a fresh face as leader.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s messaging about affordability is resonating with Canadians in certain parts of his region, acknowledged McDonald.
“He’s talking about affordability and making life more affordable for Canadians. That’s what Canadians want to hear,” he said. “I think the next election will be probably one of the most difficult elections we’ve had run in this country in a long time.”
