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More members of Liberal caucus opt out of 2025 federal elections
Trouble looms large for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Justin Trudeau. / Reuters
Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Government as more members of the ruling party declare their intent not to seek re-election to the House of Commons. The latest to join the “not running” list is former Liberal cabinet minister Marco Mendicino, who announced his intent in a social media post.
Marco Mendicino, who represents Ontario, said he will not seek re-election, thus bringing the number of Liberal MPs opting out of the race to continue representing their constituents in the House of Commons past 30. In his social media post, he said it is ‘the right time, for me and my family’ to step aside from the role, adding that he disagrees with the Liberal government’s approach to the Middle East.
Mendocino, however, said he would serve as MP for Toronto's Eglinton—Lawrence riding for the remainder of the term of the current House while repeating his criticism of Trudeau’s government's approach to the Middle East.
"It is no secret that I have disagreed with the current direction of the federal government on our foreign policy vis-a-vis our deteriorated relations with the State of Israel, our inadequate handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and our enfeebled role in the Middle East," wrote Mendicino. "As a matter of principle, I have been consistently outspoken in my condemnation of the unjust targeting of the Jewish community, which is facing a tidal wave of antisemitism," he said.
Several ministers have also announced their intentions not to run for the 2025 federal elections. They include Marie-Claude Bibeau, Carla Qualtrough, Filomena Tassi, Dan Vandal, Seamus O'Regan, Pablo Rodriguez and Sean Fraser
Another Liberal MP, George Chahal, has now joined the “dissenters’ group” in seeking a replacement of Justin Trudeau. He is the second Liberal MP of South Asian descent, to express his lack of confidence in the Prime Minister openly. He wants to contest the ensuing federal elections.
Earlier, Chandra Arya, representing Nepean, also expressed his lack of confidence in the party leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
After a holiday in British Columbia, Justin Trudeau presided over a remote Cabinet meeting over the developments in Canada’s relations with the US. He, however, has not made any Press statement.
Meanwhile, all eyes are focused on a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that may set the agenda for the House of Commons otherwise scheduled to resume its sitting on Jan.27.
The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), John Williamson of the Conservative Party, took to his social media channels last week, a day after Boxing Day, to announce that a meeting of the PAC is being recalled on Jan.7 to discuss a motion of non-confidence. He said the motion is to be tabled in Parliament when the House returns from its holiday break on Jan.27. A vote on the PAC motion could take place as early as Jan.30.
Though most of the MPs were holidaying after the House adjourned on Dec.18, 2024, they may be back to work attending the committee meetings. The foremost of these meetings is going to be the PAC meeting amidst a fresh statement from the NDP leader Jagmeet Singh that his party would also bring up a no-confidence motion against Justin Trudeau and his minority Liberal government.
What plans Justin Trudeau and his refurbished Cabinet have for the coming days are being anxiously awaited? Justin Trudeau may have a surprise card in his armoury that may upset the Opposition parties game of seeking his head by forcing early election to the House of Commons.
The new House, as and when elected, may throw up several new faces as the number of those opting to retire at the end of the current tumultuous turn may rise further with the developments continuing to unfold in the coming days and weeks.
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