OTTAWA—Former Trudeau cabinet minister Catherine McKenna is the latest Liberal from outside the sitting government to call on the prime minister to leave in the wake of Monday’s shock byelection defeat in Toronto.
In a statement first reported by the CBC, McKenna said the time has come for a new leader. The former environment and infrastructure minister served for years in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, but has recently suggested former Bank of Canada Mark Carney would be a great candidate for Liberal leader.
Her statement Friday, which was provided to the Star, does not mention Carney but suggests that she thinks the Liberal party can’t win the next federal election with Trudeau as leader.
She declined an interview request on Friday from the Star.
“The Liberal party isn’t about one person. It’s about the values it stands for and it’s about improving the lives of Canadians,” McKenna’s statement said.
“The Prime Minister has a legacy to be proud of but it’s time for new ideas, new energy and a new leader. There is too much at stake in this election especially on the economy and climate.”
McKenna’s statement follows a call for Trudeau to resign from Christy Clark, the former B.C. Liberal premier. Clark told the Star on Thursday that she is being encouraged to run for Trudeau’s job if he does step down, and that the byelection defeat in Toronto—St. Paul’s — once seen as a Liberal stronghold — shows the current weakness of the party across the country.
Others in the party have told the Star this week that they still support Trudeau, though some MPs have said the loss to Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives signals the need for serious change to prevent a devastating defeat in the general election currently set for October 2025.
Some insiders have said they think the party needs to shift back to the centre of the political spectrum. One MP also said that, if Trudeau stays, changes should be made to improve the cabinet and campaign team around him.
Trudeau has insisted for months that he intends to remain as Liberal leader for the next campaign.
He has not taken questions from journalists since before Monday’s byelection defeat.
Cameron Ahmad, a former communications director for Trudeau, declined to speculate on leadership questions or how things may be playing out behind the scenes.
He said the Liberal party “is a democratic institution so it’s the right of every member to express their reaction to the result and air their concerns. Everybody needs to be able to do both.
“But everybody needs to see the bigger perspective and address what Canadians want the party to do (to tackle the issues that matter),” Ahmad said. “They also need to recognize the PM’s leadership has made a huge difference in the lives of Canadians. He’s overcome tough times before. And with the right strategy I’m sure he can continue to overcome tough situations like the party has been in before.”
With files from Tonda MacCharles
