There’s a growing movement within the Liberal party caucus to oust Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Internal sources have said Liberal MPs are adding their names to an internal petition being passed around that calls for a leadership change.
In the aftermath of the Toronto-St. Paul’s byelection loss this summer, several frustrated MPs hosted a string of meetings to discuss the party’s path forward without Trudeau at the helm.
Multiple sources told CBC News on anonymity that more talks flared up following the Montreal byelection defeat and then again this week as Trudeau’s chief of staff Katie Telford is away in Asia for a summit.
In her absence, a pledge calling for the prime minister to resign is being passed around for MPs to sign.
According to multiple sources, the document is being used as a means to secure support for leadership change in the face of Trudeau and his supporters refusing to step down.
While the document is being kept tightly away from the public eye, sources said that it has already been signed by as many as 20 MPs, as well as others and will be brought forth once it has enough signatures.
Those responsible for organizing the pledge fear that if it’s released too early, the Prime Minister’s Office will be able to push back and divide support among those trying to have him ousted as leader, something that happened once already following the Toronto byelection loss.
Frustrations over Trudeau’s continued leadership arose during the Liberals’ national caucus meeting last week, with some MPs expressing anger over Trudeau being in Laos for an international summit at the time.
Additionally, questions over who will replace former Liberal campaign director Jeremy Broadhurst continue to swirl within the party. Broadhurst left the role last month and the role remains vacant despite the looming possibility of a federal election being called at any time.
Sources said that MPs are losing patience with how the PMO has so far ignored their concerns on the matter and expressed that they had hoped the two major byelection defeats and dismal polling numbers would have been enough for Trudeau to step down on his own.
However, the prime minister has remained adamant that he intends to stay on as leader of the Liberal party heading into the next election, despite the Conservatives commanding a 20-point lead in the latest polls.