A Liberal MP from London, Ont., is becoming a member of a number of of his caucus colleagues in publicly calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign as chief of the occasion — and he says the variety of Liberals who need Trudeau to step down will possible get even larger.
“Nowadays, the continued management of Prime Minister Trudeau is simply not tenable — specifically of what is occurred with [Chrystia] Freeland,” Peter Fragiskatos stated in an interview with .
Fragiskatos, who represents London North Centre, stated he gave the prime minister house over the vacations to replicate on his future after Freeland abruptly resigned as finance minister and deputy prime minister, which he known as a “defining second.”
“It is now January 4,” Fragiskatos stated. “I consider that [Trudeau] has had an excellent alternative to contemplate his future … The Christmas holidays have handed. Constituents need to know the place I stand.”
Fragiskatos joins a refrain of different Liberals who’re publicly calling on Trudeau to resign, together with Winnipeg South Centre MP Ben Carr, Don Valley West MP Robert Oliphant and Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather.
“Quite a few members of parliament have expressed the view now that the prime minister must resign,” Fragiskatos stated. “That quantity has grown and albeit, is prone to develop bigger.”
Peter Fragiskatos, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, London Mayor Josh Morgan and MP Arielle Kayabaga go to an inexpensive housing challenge in London, Ont., on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Nicole Osborne/The Canadian Press)
Some regional caucuses, together with Atlantic, Quebec and Ontario Liberal MPs, are additionally reportedly encouraging the prime minister to step down as occasion chief.
Regardless of publicly calling for Trudeau’s resignation, Fragiskatos additionally stated that “within the fullness of time” the prime minister will probably be seen “fairly favourably both by historians or different analysts, and I believe even in most people.”
As for what comes subsequent, Fragiskatos stated he hopes the occasion opens a path for a management contest the place “good, considerate candidates provide a view on the nation, its social future [and] financial future.”
“One factor the Conservatives ought to recollect is they need to by no means underestimate the Liberal Get together of Canada,” Fragiskatos stated. “This is likely one of the most profitable political events within the Western political custom.”
Liberal MPs assembly Wednesday
Liberal nationwide caucus chair Brenda Shanahan has known as a gathering on Wednesday, Jan. 8 with all the Liberal caucus, in line with an electronic mail despatched to MPs and shared with on Friday. It’s scheduled to run so long as six hours.
Fragiskatos stated he is unsure what the prime minister could be doing on the assembly. However because it’s scheduled as a protracted assembly, “there will probably be a possibility to speak in regards to the weeks and months forward.”
A number of Liberal MPs hope the assembly will carry an finish to months of personal and public efforts to attempt to power Trudeau to step down.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to signal a ebook of condolences for former U.S. president Jimmy Carter on the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
MPs additionally say they nonetheless don’t have any indication of the prime minister’s intentions. One MP advised they might not be stunned if Trudeau intends to remain on regardless of efforts to take away him.
The Conservatives lead the Liberals by 23 factors nationwide, in line with CBC’s Ballot Tracker. However Fragiskatos stated he believes a brand new chief who articulates a daring imaginative and prescient for the current and future can “recapture the creativeness of Canadians.”
“It will likely be a really tough problem, to make certain, however not inconceivable,” Fragiskatos stated.
