With polls suggesting the Liberal Party’s support is still in freefall, some of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s top ministers were asked Monday whether they’re angling to replace him as Liberal leader.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Treasury Board President Anita Anand, Housing Minister Sean Fraser and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne were all asked if they’re considering leadership bids.
Freeland, who has been floated as a possible successor for years, said Trudeau has her “full support.”
“We just had a great week of cabinet and caucus retreats. The prime minister was very clear, as he has been, that he intends to lead our party into the next election. He has my full support and I’m sure you will find my colleagues here feel the same way,” she said, gesturing at the other ministers assembled for a press conference on the state of Canada’s economy.
“We have a leader,” she added, when pressed to state whether she’s organizing a leadership bid behind the scenes. “Our job, my job, and I think it’s our collective job, is to work together as a team and focus on supporting Canadians.”
Champagne, another rumoured possible candidate for the party’s top job, said Freeland’s response was “the perfect answer” and he had nothing else to add.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller, a close personal friend of Trudeau and a minister frequently tasked with the government’s toughest files, said there’s “not a chance in hell” he would put his name forward to lead the party any time soon.
Ministers pressed to say whether they’re interested in Liberal Party leadership
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has her ‘full support’ to lead the Liberals in the next election.
The questions come a week after Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal MP Ken McDonald made waves when he said the government is “past its expiry date” in an interview with Radio-Canada, CBC’s French-language service.
McDonald also suggested it might be time for a leadership review, given the prime minister’s sinking popularity. He later walked back those comments in a written statement after a call from the Liberal whip, Ruby Sahota.
Polls suggest the opposition Conservatives are well ahead of the Liberals; 338Canada, a poll aggregator, puts Pierre Poilievre’s party 14 points ahead of the governing Liberals nationwide.
Abacus Data, an Ottawa-based firm, released a poll Sunday that suggests the Conservative lead is even bigger than that.
In an interview with CBC News, David Coletto, Abacus’s CEO, said voter fatigue and dissatisfaction with the economy and housing are what’s driving those poor poll numbers.
“You’ve got a population that’s feeling pretty sour about the direction of the country and that’s basically leading them to feel quite dissatisfied with the performance of both the prime minister and the government as a whole,” he said.
“One of the things we noticed in our most recent survey is those who want a change in government and feel comfortable with the alternative has hit an all-time high.”
Liberals, Conservatives in attack mode as Parliament resumes
With the Conservatives leading the polls over the Liberals, the two parties attacked each other in the days before a new sitting of Parliament.
Poilievre has blamed the prime minister personally for “crime and chaos” in the streets and home prices that have doubled over the past eight years.
He repeated those familiar lines in a nearly hour-long address to MPs in the Commons shortly after its return Monday.
“It is 2024 and the prime minister is still not worth the cost. He’s not worth the crime. He’s not worth giving up the country we know and love,” Poilievre said.
“The prime minister seeks to distract and attack anyone who disagrees with him in order to make people forget how miserable he has made life in this country after nearly a decade in power.”
In question period, Trudeau hit back, painting the Conservatives as a party populated by fringe elements.
He also needled Poilievre over the party membership’s vote to block policy that declares climate change is real.
Poilievre rips Blanchet over the carbon tax
Poilievre also ramped up his attacks on the other opposition parties, the Bloc Québécois and the NDP.
He said the Bloc has allowed the Liberals to increase the carbon tax, the government’s signature climate policy.
Poilievre said the Liberals have “driven up inflation and interest rates at the expense of the working class and seniors” with the “full support of the Bloc.”
The party’s leader, Yves-Francois Blanchet, called the claim nonsense — he’s voted against past Liberal budgets and economic updates. Blanchet said the attacks come from a leader who wants the limelight.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet accused Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of seeking attention through his questions. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
“I hope Stornoway has a lot of mirrors in the rooms because he really does like himself,” Blanchet said, referring to the leader of the opposition’s official residence. “There’s no limit to the level of lights he wants on himself.”
In an apparent pitch for voters in places like northern Ontario and B.C., where there are some Conservative-NDP vote-switchers, Poilievre said the “greedy NDP” is to blame for government spending spiralling out of control.
He said the NDP has pushed Liberals to stand up new programs that pile borrowing on a national debt that’s already doubled to $1.2 trillion in the last eight years.
The NDP has taken credit for a $14-billion dental care program that will see the government foot the bill for some dentistry for low- and middle-income Canadians. It’s also demanding the government push through a national pharmacare program, another social program that’s expected to come with a multi-billion dollar price tag.
“Right now, the government is rich and the people are poor, because the prime minister cannot stop spending, and his greedy NDP coalition counterparts push him to spend even more of other people’s money,” Poilievre said.
Poilievre vows spending cuts
The Conservative leader said that, if elected, he will slash government spending in a bid to lower inflation.
He promised Monday to dismantle the Canadian Infrastructure Bank, scrap the ArriveCAN app — COVID-era software that’s now used to ease border crossings — dismantle a green technology fund that’s been a source of controversy and dramatically curb the use of outside consultants.
The Liberal government already has announced billions of dollars in cuts to keep the budget on a sustainable path, including reduced travel and consultant spending.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party is focused on the problem of homelessness. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)
Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party’s priority is the growing homeless crisis.
He pointed to recent emergency declarations in Edmonton and Toronto as proof that the government isn’t adequately addressing an increasingly dire housing situation that has left more people sleeping rough.
“What makes matters worse is the Liberals have been in power for nine years and have really not prioritized this,” he said. “We’re calling for an emergency debate. We’re pushing for real action to tackle this problem.”
New Brunswick voters have elected a Liberal majority government, tossing out the incumbent Progressive Conservatives after six years in power and handing the reins to the first woman ever to lead the province. Liberal Leader Susan Holt spent much of the campaign rolling out proposed fixes for a health-care system racked by a doctor shortage, overcrowded emergency rooms and long wait-times. She promised to open 30 community health clinics across the province by 2028. (Oct. 22, 2024)
Susan Holt has made history in New Brunswick by becoming the first woman to serve as the leader of the province’s Liberal Party, a significant milestone in the province’s political landscape. Holt’s leadership victory signals a new era of representation, gender equality, and change in the region, which has long been dominated by male politicians.
Holt’s journey to the top has been one of perseverance and dedication. Before entering politics, she built a distinguished career in the private sector, where she held numerous leadership positions. Her experience in business development and public policy has equipped her with the skills needed to navigate the complex world of politics.
In a province where women have historically been underrepresented in politics, Holt’s election represents a watershed moment. Women’s involvement in leadership roles has been steadily increasing nationwide, but New Brunswick, like many parts of Canada, has seen slower progress in achieving gender parity. Holt’s rise to the top of the Liberal Party not only shatters a glass ceiling but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of women aiming for political leadership.
As the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, Holt has laid out a vision of inclusivity and progress. Her policies focus on economic development, healthcare reform, environmental sustainability, and addressing social issues that have plagued the province. She has also emphasized the importance of transparent governance and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities, making her platform both modern and forward-thinking.
Holt’s leadership arrives at a time when many voters are calling for change, especially in the face of challenges like economic uncertainty and the need for healthcare improvements. She aims to bring fresh ideas to tackle these issues while ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their background, have a voice in government decisions.
Susan Holt joins the ranks of other trailblazing women across Canada who have led provincial parties and governments. Women like former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne have paved the way, and now Holt is contributing to this growing legacy of female political leadership in Canada.
Her achievement highlights not only the growing number of women entering politics but also the demand for leaders who can bring diverse perspectives to the table. In a field often dominated by entrenched traditions, Holt’s election is a step toward a more inclusive and representative political landscape in New Brunswick.
Holt’s leadership signals a broader shift in Canadian politics, where more women and diverse voices are gaining prominence. For young women across the country, her rise serves as a powerful reminder that leadership roles are within reach, even in traditionally male-dominated spheres.
With her election, Susan Holt has proven that perseverance, skill, and a vision for change can break even the toughest barriers. Her leadership will not only reshape New Brunswick’s political future but also inspire others across Canada to pursue leadership positions and continue to challenge the status quo.
NDP Leader Carla Beck has two planned campaign events today, starting the day with an availability in Moose Jaw and then later this evening attending an event in the capital with the Regina Medical Staff Association.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, meanwhile, will speak in Prince Albert at the start of Voting Week in the province.
Saskatchewan residents can vote for five days starting today in the lead-up to next week’s provincial election, although polls won’t be open Sunday.
The NDP and the Saskatchewan Party are urging voters to cast their ballots early.
Voters can find their polling stations on their information cards or by visiting the Elections Saskatchewan website.
Chief electoral officer Michael Boda says there are about 810,000 registered voters in Saskatchewan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
