Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, addressed whether he will step down as Liberal leader, during a news conference on Oct. 24 about Ottawa’s immigration targets.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he will lead the Liberal Party into the next federal election campaign, speaking one day after some Liberal MPs criticized his leadership during an extended closed door caucus meeting.
Mr. Trudeau answered questions about the meeting for the first time Thursday, stating clearly that he has no intention of stepping down.
During Wednesday’s caucus meeting, sources told the Globe and Mail that B.C. MP Patrick Weiler read a letter to the room expressing concern with the party’s direction and asking the Prime Minister to step down. Mr. Trudeau was told that 24 people had put their names to it, but those names were not disclosed even in the private meeting. In addition to the letter, dozens of MPs spoke during the meeting both for and against Mr. Trudeau’s continued leadership.
The dissidents gave Mr. Trudeau a deadline of Monday, Oct. 28 to respond to their concerns, but did not indicate what the next step would be.
Mr. Trudeau said “yes” when asked Thursday if he plans on staying on as Prime Minister beyond Oct. 28.
He said the party’s focus is on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, repeating his criticism of the fact that Mr. Poilievre refuses to get a security clearance to receive a briefing about foreign interference.
“I have a really hard time believing that all Conservative members are perfectly fine with their leader politicizing issues around national security, but refusing to get a security clearance to be able to actually deal with foreign interference,” he said.
Mr. Trudeau said the Liberal Party shares perspectives and talks “amongst ourselves,” but is united in a desire to make sure Mr. Poilievre does not form government, which he said would lead to program and service cuts.
“We’re going to continue to have great conversations about what is the best way to take on Pierre Poilievre in the next election, but that will happen with me as leader going into the next election,” he said at a Thursday news conference in Ottawa announcing that the federal government will be reducing Canada’s immigration targets.
The Liberal government’s move to significantly increase immigration targets in recent years has been widely criticized in policy circles for failing to ensure the housing market and government programs are in place to accommodate those higher levels.
The Globe spoke to 12 MPs privately after Wednesday’s meeting, and is not identifying them because they were not authorized to discuss caucus deliberations and they fear repercussions.
-With reports from Stephanie Levitz and Marieke Walsh
