Canada: Liberals pressurize Trudeau to step down as PM

Trudeau met privately with Liberal lawmakers on Wednesday, where 20 MPs—none from the cabinet—urged him to step down ahead of an expected electoral defeat in the next election.

Dissatisfied members of Canada’s Liberals party have issued an ultimatum to Justin Trudeau: decide by early next week whether to stay on as leader, or face the possibility of a caucus rebellion.

Additionally, 24 MPs signed a letter asking him to decide by 28 October, though no specific consequences were outlined.

With 153 Liberal MPs in total, the call for Trudeau’s resignation does not yet have widespread backing. While concerns about his political future are growing, no potential challenger has emerged to take his place.

Now in his ninth year as prime minister, Trudeau is facing increasing unpopularity and pressure to step down to avoid a potentially humiliating election outcome that could push the Liberals to a distant third place. The CBC Poll Tracker indicates that the Conservatives currently hold a nearly 20-point lead over the governing Liberals.

Recent by-election losses have further fueled doubts about Trudeau’s leadership. The party lost the LaSalle–Émard–Verdun seat, a Liberal stronghold for over 50 years, and had earlier lost a safe seat in downtown Toronto. These defeats reflect growing public dissatisfaction with the government amid rising living costs, a housing crisis, and policy missteps that have weakened support for immigration.

Despite this, Trudeau remains committed to leading the Liberals in the next federal election, which could occur before fall 2025.

After the three-hour meeting on Wednesday, senior cabinet members reaffirmed their support for the prime minister. Immigration Minister Marc Miller, a close ally, expressed confidence that Trudeau would compete in the next election against Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, dismissing the situation as not a “code red.” He praised the MPs who voiced their concerns directly to Trudeau, stating he respected their courage.

Some MPs suggested that Trudeau could still maintain the party’s support if he and his team made significant adjustments to policy and communication strategies. Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said the prime minister needs to acknowledge and address the valid frustrations expressed by his colleagues.

Trudeau made a brief statement after the meeting, asserting, “The Liberal party is strong and united.”