Stormy meeting in sight for Justin Trudeau TVA News

Stormy meeting in sight for Justin Trudeau? – TVA News

When Justin Trudeau addresses his party’s 157 MPs on Wednesday, he may notice that his team’s mood has deteriorated significantly since their last meeting in June.

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“It could be confusing,” one deputy told TVA Nouvelles on condition of anonymity.

The polls of the last few weeks have indeed caused concern in the Liberal group.

According to the latest Abacus Data poll, the Conservatives are 14 points ahead of the Liberals in national voting intentions.

“It is obvious that we will be talking about everything we are seeing at the moment, not just the great rise of the Conservative Party, but also the desperation of citizens on many levels, that is what we have heard at the doors all summer.” says Liberal MP Alexandra Mendès.


CHRIS ROUSSAKIS/ QMI AGECNY

“I can’t tell you whether there is anger at the government or at the prime minister, but there is anger,” adds the Brossard-Saint-Lambert county representative.

Justin Trudeau’s impressive cabinet reshuffle in July deeply displeased many Liberal elected officials.

“It was a missed opportunity to make deep changes,” said one MP, who said the reshuffle had only brought “changes to the facade”.

Some say they would have liked Chrystia Freeland to be removed from her post as finance minister.


Getty Images via AFP

It is said that the deputy prime minister is anything but unanimous in the group.

She is particularly criticized for being more interested in international than national issues, say behind-the-scenes sources, while the cost of living is on everyone’s lips.

MPs also criticize the government’s slow response to important issues such as the real estate crisis.

At the end of a three-day meeting in Charlottetown in August, Justin Trudeau and his new council of ministers announced they had no new plans to address the issue.

Liberal elected officials say some may use this week’s national caucus meeting in London, Ont., to demand changes.

Behind the scenes, MPs want their leader and his team to improve communication with the public, particularly to respond to Pierre Poilievre’s attacks.


Photo agency QMI, PASCAL HUOT

“We are being crushed,” complains an elected official who asked to remain anonymous.

“We should be much more proud of everything we have done as a government,” said Rep. Mendes.

The Conservative Party has been airing commercials for several weeks attacking opposition leader Justin Trudeau over the rising cost of living.

Others feel that their leader needs to abandon his “lines” and speak more from the heart when speaking publicly about important issues.

“The message needs to be refocused to reach people better,” said a member of the group, referring in particular to inflation.

Although some say they question whether Justin Trudeau is still the man for the job, all Liberal MPs contacted by TVA say they don’t expect the prime minister’s leadership to be called into question.

“He is still the best campaigner in the party,” says one MP who prefers to remain anonymous.

“We have time, but time is running out when the momentum is on the other side,” said another.

53% of respondents to the latest Abacus survey say they have a poor impression of the current prime minister.

Justin Trudeau, who has been in power for almost eight years, has announced he wants to lead the Liberal Party in the next election.


AFP

In doing so, he would attempt to win a fourth consecutive mandate, a feat not achieved by any prime minister since Wilfrid Laurier more than a century ago.

Justin Trudeau reiterated this summer that he does not intend to hold an election until 2025, the expiration of the agreement that keeps the NDP in power as a minority government.

The Liberal caucus will meet in London on Wednesday and Thursday to prepare for the return of Parliament on September 18.