(London) Justin Trudeau’s Quebec MPs showed a united front behind their leader on Wednesday, sometimes advocating that we should “not give in to the panic,” sometimes arguing for the prime minister to remain the man for the job, often by saying downplayed the importance of polls.
Published at 10:23 am. Updated at 11:18 a.m
The elected officials who paraded in front of the cameras at the convention center in London, Ont., all expressed their confidence in their leader, whose popularity plummeted over the summer in favor of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
Minister Diane Lebouthillier used an analogy to explain the desire for change that seems to be driving the country’s electorate. “When we were teenagers, we probably all would have gotten rid of our parents at some point and changed them,” she explained.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVE
Diane Lebouthillier
“Of course, the Quebec caucus is united behind the leader and I am sure that it will be the same in the discussions at the end of the national caucus,” assured Minister Pascale St-Onge, arguing that “the only poll.” What counts , are the elections and not now.”
Several MPs wanted to emphasize that Justin Trudeau led his troops to victory in 2015, 2019 and then 2021. And the Liberals are “capable of renewing themselves,” explained Minister Pablo Rodriguez.
The “nervous Nellies”
Still, “I think there are people who are nervous,” his colleague St-Onge acknowledged when asked to respond to comments from Liberal elected officials questioning Justin Trudeau’s leadership under the cloak of anonymity place.
“Mister. [Jean] Chrétien had a term in English for MPs who might be a little too worried when they hit a bump in the road: Nervous Nellies. I have been in politics for a long time and I think we have to stay the course and keep calm,” argued veteran Francis Scarpaleggia.
The same story comes from Minister Steven Guilbeault. “There are concerns, but it’s the best thing you can do […], is not panic. You have to take a deep breath. I think the last thing people want to see is a federal election,” he said.
PHOTO DARREN CALABRESE, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVE
Melanie Joly
Until the next election, no matter when it takes place, the government is aware that Canadians are suffering from the cost of living, said Minister Mélanie Joly: “We know that people are frustrated by inflation.” […] We feel they are worried about the rise in interest rates and that is normal.”
Before Prime Minister Trudeau opens the national caucus meeting on Wednesday afternoon, he will make an announcement on housing. He will be accompanied by the minister responsible for the dossier, Sean Fraser, with whom he will have visited an affordable housing development in London.
Demonstrators in cars invite themselves to the event
A small welcoming committee awaited the Liberals in the southwestern Ontario city; A few cars circled, honking, near the convention center where the meeting is being held, as well as near certain hotels where some elected officials are staying on Tuesday.
The region’s constituencies are expected to be hotly contested in the next elections. This is also an area where Justin Trudeau has been chased by hostile protesters on more than one occasion – during the 2021 election campaign, a man threw rocks at him in London, then a mob chased him in Windsor.
Most recently, in 2023, in Hamilton, the hotel where his cabinet meeting was held was surrounded by protesters. The prime minister’s entourage and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police would not specify whether security would be tightened ahead of the meeting, which ends Thursday.