Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to supporters during a Liberal party fundraiser in Montreal, on July 3.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
The minority Liberals have rejected a call from some of their own MPs to hold a caucus meeting in the wake of the party’s stunning defeat in the Toronto-St. Paul’s by-election, arguing that such a meeting is not logistically feasible.
According to three sources, Liberal caucus chair and Quebec MP Brenda Shanahan confirmed late Thursday what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had signalled a day earlier: that there will not be a full caucus meeting before September.
Given travel commitments and vacations, the Liberal sources echoed her message, saying scheduling one to address concerns about the government’s position with voters was not immediately possible. The Liberals have already planned a caucus retreat for early September in B.C.
The sources also said that most MPs do not want an early caucus meeting, although one of them said the reason for that wasn’t logistics but rather fear among MPs that the discussion would be leaked to the media.
One of the sources, a senior government official, said the Prime Minister’s Office does not agree that the party’s prospects are as dire as the picture painted in the media, pointing to a recent uptick for the Liberals in public opinion polling shown by both Nanos Research and Leger, although the polls show the Liberals still trail the Conservatives by double digits.
The Globe and Mail is not identifying the sources because they were not permitted to disclose the internal deliberations. The rejected demand for a caucus meeting was first reported by CBC News.
Toronto-St. Paul’s, in the city’s midtown, which the Liberals had held since 1993, was considered one of their safest seats and the June 24 defeat marks the first time the Liberals have lost a race in Canada’s largest city since 2015.
On June 28, a group of nine MPs, including Alberta MP George Chahal and New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, sent a letter to caucus chair Ms. Shanahan demanding an “immediate, in-person national caucus meeting” to discuss the loss, which they said shows traditional supporters have “tuned out.”
“The residents of Toronto-St. Paul were clear in sending a message. If we claim to be listening, then our public responses are disconnected from reality,” they said.
“This scenario did not arise overnight, but it demands immediate attention.”
Montreal-area Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who was the party’s caucus chair for 11 years, said he agrees with the decision not to hold a meeting this summer. He said it takes time to organize such meetings and that summer isn’t the best time, especially when MPs are back in their ridings or on vacation. He also said an urgent meeting wouldn’t allow for the time needed to organize an agenda and present new directions.
Mr. Scarpaleggia said he “absolutely” supports Mr. Trudeau and called the request for an immediate caucus meeting “a nervous reaction” by some to the by-election loss and he predicted things will calm down.
Liberal MP Adam van Koeverden, who represents the Greater Toronto Area riding of Milton, this week played down the need for a meeting, saying he’s happy with how the summer is going and stressing the importance of connecting with his constituents.
Mr. Long is so far the only sitting MP to publicly call for Mr. Trudeau’s exit and has already said he doesn’t plan to run in the next election. However, several former Liberal cabinet ministers have called for the Prime Minister’s ouster.
Adding to the criticism is former minister and MP Marc Garneau, who Mr. Trudeau dropped from his cabinet after the 2021 election.
In an early copy of his autobiography, obtained by The Canadian Press, Mr. Garneau writes that Canada has lost its standing in the world under Mr. Trudeau’s tenure. He described the Prime Minister as an ill-prepared leader who prioritizes politics and makes big pronouncements without any follow-through.
“Unfortunately Canada’s standing in the world has slipped, in part because our pronouncements are not always matched by a capacity to act or by actions that clearly demonstrate that we mean what we say,” Mr. Garneau writes in his autobiography.
“We are losing credibility.”
He also contends that under Mr. Trudeau, the government is reactive and ill-prepared.
“It is not sufficient to pay attention only when a concern arises, something this government has made a habit of,” he writes.
With a report from The Canadian Press.