Trudeau reaches out to MPs

Under pressure to relinquish leadership, PM seeks to quell concerns in caucus

- TONDA MACCHARLES, ALEX BALLINGALL AND RAISA PATEL

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, shown last week in Markham, held a phone meeting with his national caucus Tuesday to give members a chance to air concerns over his continued leadership ahead of next year’s election.

OTTAWA Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been working the phones to tamp down any caucus discontent, including on a call Tuesday with his national caucus representatives, following a week of pressure on him to relinquish the Liberal leadership.

Senior government officials expressed optimism that, after a long weekend in which Trudeau told the CBC is he “committed” to his job, the whirlwind of speculation about his grip on power could calm down.

At the same time, multiple MPs inside caucus downplayed the prospect of a brewing “revolt” against Trudeau as a single caucus member — New Brunswick’s Wayne Long — remained the only current Liberal MP openly calling for him to go.

There remain other Liberals — both inside and outside caucus — who think the party is now better off without Trudeau as leader, including figures like former Trudeau environment minister Catherine McKenna.

Most, however, are refusing to go public, for now.

On Tuesday, a Liberal MP told the Star that Trudeau should resign, and that “most” caucus colleagues agree it’s time for the leader to step down.

“If the prime minister cares about those important legacy items then he would step aside and give someone else a chance that can actually beat the Conservatives and ensure the continuation of child care, dental care, pharmacare,” said the MP, who agreed to speak on condition they aren’t identified, but isn’t Long.

Just how widespread that feeling is, or to what extent it is being expressed directly to Trudeau, is hard to assess.