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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is under increasing pressure to resign as over half of the ruling Liberal Party’s 153 MPs in the House of Commons have expressed the need for new leadership. Members are urging Trudeau to step down ahead of the federal election scheduled for October 2025, with many predicting it could occur as early as spring 2024 due to the government’s instability.
This wave of dissent gained momentum when the entire Liberal Party caucus from Atlantic Canada, except for Cabinet Ministers, publicly called for his immediate resignation. Earlier, Indo-Canadian MP George Chahal from Alberta and the Ontario caucus also voiced similar demands, urging Trudeau to step aside. Most recently, the Quebec caucus reportedly reached a consensus advocating for his resignation, as per iPolitics.
Declining Popularity and Public Support
Trudeau’s leadership has been plagued by plummeting support for both himself and his party. A survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) revealed that the Liberal Party's support among decided and leaning voters has dropped to an unprecedented 16%. This marks the lowest level of support for the party in ARI’s tracking since 2014 and possibly the lowest in modern Canadian history.
The survey also highlights Trudeau’s personal popularity hitting an all-time low, with only 22% of Canadians approving of his performance. These figures have left the opposition Conservatives in a dominant position, garnering 45% support and poised to form the next government.
Electoral Risks Under Trudeau
The risk of a disastrous election outcome under Trudeau has fueled the call for his resignation. If the current polling trends persist, the Liberals could see their parliamentary representation reduced to just six seats—a catastrophic decline. In comparison, even during their worst performance in the 2011 election under Michael Ignatieff, the party secured 18.9% of the vote and avoided such a dramatic collapse.
Adding to the crisis is the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on December 16, which has left a significant void in the party’s leadership. Some MPs have suggested Freeland as a potential replacement for Trudeau to reinvigorate the party’s prospects.
Internal Letters Highlight Frustration
A letter from the Atlantic caucus, penned by its chair Kody Blois, explicitly called for Trudeau to step aside. “The discussion this morning centered around the need for you to resign as the Leader of the Liberal Party and to urgently allow for a process to determine a new leader to replace you,” it read.
Similarly, MP George Chahal wrote to fellow MPs, stating, “Any rational individual in a position of leadership would resign. Any group of individuals providing advice based on data and logic would reach the same conclusion.”
The Ontario caucus, comprising over 50 Liberal MPs, also reached a consensus earlier in December that Trudeau should resign to allow new leadership to guide the party through the challenging times.
Trudeau’s Next Steps
Amid mounting pressure, Trudeau has stated he will use the holiday season to reflect on his future as party leader. However, with growing dissent from within the party, historic lows in public approval, and opposition parties readying for a no-confidence motion, his ability to continue as Prime Minister seems increasingly untenable.
If Trudeau does resign, the party faces the daunting task of quickly identifying and positioning a new leader to rebuild public confidence before the next federal election.
Conclusion
Justin Trudeau’s leadership is at a crossroads as the Liberal Party faces its most significant internal rebellion and public discontent in recent memory. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Trudeau steps aside or fights to retain his position amid calls for new leadership to steer the party through its current crisis.
