WELLINGTON COUNTY – Local members of parliament have offered mixed reactions to Justin Trudeau’s pending resignation, ranging from appreciation for the prime minister’s “hard work” and “hope,” to outright condemnation of the “chaos” and “crisis” that have ensued after close to a decade of his leadership.
In a Jan. 6 press conference just outside of Rideau Cottage, Trudeau announced his decision to resign from his position as prime minister and Liberal Party leader as soon as the party selects a successor.
Trudeau cited increasing pressures from inside the Liberal Party as a motivating factor in his decision.
At the same press conference, Trudeau also announced parliament will be prorogued until March. 24.
“I care deeply about this country, and I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians,” Trudeau told reporters.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles I cannot be the best option in that election.”
‘Moment of national crisis’
Upon hearing the news, Conservative Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong didn’t mince words.
“It has been a tumultuous several months of chaos in Ottawa,” Chong said.
“It is long past the time for the prime minister to resign and long past the time for us to have an election.”
Chong said Trudeau suspended Parliament “to avoid accountability.
“He will put the country through a leadership race at this moment of national crisis,” Chong continued.
Among the issues he says can’t afford to wait while the Liberals sort themselves out, Chong listed an increase in violent crime, a “broken” immigration system, a national housing crisis, “and we’re staring down the barrel of a new U.S. administration.
“Forty million Canadians will be put through the turmoil of the Liberal Party leadership drama,” he said.
“It should not take months to resolve – it should be a matter of weeks.”
Perth-Wellington MP John Nater, also a Conservative, echoed those sentiments.
“It’s time for an election, it’s time for changing government – and that’s from the opposition Conservative standpoint, where we’re ready for that election, regardless of who the Liberal leader is,” Nater told the Advertiser.
“All three opposition parties have stated that they will vote in favour of a (motion declaring) non-confidence in the government … that has to happen as soon as the House of Commons returns after March 24,” he added.
“I think we’re at the point now that it’s just a matter of time there.
“There will be an election this year, and it sounds like it’s going to happen shortly after the House of Commons resumes at the end of March.”
‘Parliament wasn’t functioning’
Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield said he was upset by the news of Trudeau’s resignation.
The Liberal MP said that over the last nine years, the prime minister demonstrated the values of “hard work” and “hope,” especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was saddened by the fact that it came to this, but I understood, given the circumstances of the polarization,” said the Liberal MP.
“The Parliament wasn’t functioning.”
Unlike Nater and Chong, Longfield said he supports the decision to prorogue parliament, stating the decision “makes sense.”
“The Conservatives were filibustering the house and so we weren’t able to get any legislation through the house … because a lot of their filibustering was personal attacks on the prime minister versus the government,” he said.
“This is one situation where I think proroguing makes sense.”
Longfield told the Advertiser he was not among those inside the Liberal Party calling for Trudeau’s resignation.
The Liberals have already begun their search for a successor, with the floor now open to any member of the party.
“I think we have 90 days to hold a convention, and if we’re coming back March 24 into parliament, sounds like that’s going to be a lot faster than 90 days. It’s probably closer to 60 days,” said Longfield.
“In the next few days, I’m sure we’ll be hearing people that are interested in seeking the nomination.”
Longfield noted there are some questions left unanswered.
“If you’re the leader of the Liberal Party and you don’t have a seat in the house of commons, how do you function as a prime minister?” Longfield asked.
“Those are the questions that people will be talking about, and in terms of candidates, who has experience in the House of Commons, is that important?
“Or do you want somebody coming from the outside? And so, it’ll be really interesting to see how the membership of the party determines the leader.”
– With files from Joanne Shuttleworth
