20.46°C Vancouver

Sep 9, 2024 1:27 PM - The Canadian Press

Justin Trudeau may be in for an earful as he meets with caucus in B.C.

Share On
justin-trudeau-may-be-in-for-an-earful-as-he-meets-with-caucus-in-b-c
Trudeau held fast to his decision to lead the party into the next election and rejected calls to convene his caucus over the summer to respond to their concerns about their collective prospects. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may be bracing for an earful from his caucus when Liberal MPs gather in Nanaimo, B.C. today to plot their strategy for the coming election year.

It will be the first time he faces them as a group since MPs departed Ottawa in the spring.

Still stinging from a devastating byelection loss earlier this summer, the caucus is now also reeling from news that their national campaign director has resigned and the party can no longer count on the NDP to stave off an early election.

"They should be giving the prime minister a rough ride," said strategist Ginny Roth, who served as director of communications for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's leadership campaign.

She's skeptical they will, though.

"This is a caucus meeting that some of the caucus members demanded happen earlier this summer ... and he basically told them to pound sand, and he's only getting around to it now, and they have just accepted that," she said.

The governing Liberals found themselves in political freefall last summer and despite efforts to refocus on key issues like housing and affordability, the polls have not moved back in their favour.

Simmering calls for a new leader reached a new intensity earlier this summer when the Conservatives won over a longtime Liberal stronghold in a major byelection upset in Toronto St. Paul's.

Trudeau held fast to his decision to lead the party into the next election and rejected calls to convene his caucus over the summer to respond to their concerns about their collective prospects.

The prime minister has spoken with Liberal MPs one-on-one over the last few months and attended several regional meetings ahead of the Nanaimo retreat.

While several Liberals who don't feel comfortable speaking publicly say the meetings were positive, the prime minister has mainly held to his message that he is simply focused on "delivering for Canadians."

Some hope to hear more about how he plans to win those Canadians back when he addresses his team this week.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is also expected to address the group. Long touted as a possible leadership successor to Trudeau, Carney will instead act as advisor to caucus on the economy and growth.

The three-day retreat is expected to include breakout meetings for the Indigenous, rural and women's caucuses.

Latest news

trump-arrives-in-alaska-talks-with-putin-on-ukraine-war
WorldAug 15, 2025

Trump arrives in Alaska, talks with Putin on Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are holding talks on the Ukraine war in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. The meeting is taking place behind closed doors. Trump waited on the plane for about half an hour for Putin to arrive in Alaska. Putin is in the US after 10 years. He was welcomed by a red carpet at the airport. The two leaders were initially expected to meet privately, but now senior American and Russian officials have also joined them. Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to the meeting, says Ukraine trusts the US but there is no indication that Russia
be-safe-around-tracks-and-trains
BCAug 15, 2025

White Rock RCMP appeals to be safe around tracks and trains

White Rock RCMP is reminding the public that trains can move without warning, stay off the tracks, follow signals and use designated crossings. On the evening of August 13, around 7:15 p.m., White Rock RCMP responded to a train stopped blocking the crossing near the pier head. While the train was stationary, some pedestrians, including parents with children crawled under it or walked along the tracks instead of using the Balsam Street crossing. This is extremely dangerous. A stopped train can move without warning, and anyone underneath or on the tracks is at serious risk of injury or death. Po
officials-hope-rain-clear-heavy-smoke-from-wildfire-near-port-alberni-b-c
BCAug 15, 2025

Officials hope rain clear heavy smoke from wildfire near Port Alberni, B.C.

Officials on Vancouver Island are hoping rain in the forecast can help clear up the air quality muddied by an out-of-control wildfire. The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District says wildland firefighters have said the rain may improve air quality locally, but that it's hard to be certain. The west central region is under an air quality statement, along with parts of Vancouver Island's east coast and the Sunshine coast region on the B.C. mainland. The intense Mount Underwood wildfire has grown to more than 34 square kilometres, with fire behaviour that the BC Wildfire Service says is "unusual" fo
first-nation-in-b-c-says-41-more-graves-found-by-penetrating-radar-at-school-site
BCAug 15, 2025

First Nation in B.C. says 41 more graves found by penetrating radar at school site

The shishalh First Nation says 41 ``additional unmarked graves'' have been found as a result of a search with ground-penetrating radar on the site of a former residential school. The nation on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast says a team has been scanning the area around the St. Augustine's Residential School site for the last 18 months, at locations identified through interviews with survivors. It says the discovery brings the number of suspected graves at the site to 81, after initial findings that were announced in 2023. First Nations communities have tended to use careful language when an
air-canada-flight-attendants-in-final-day-before-strike-deadline
CanadaAug 15, 2025

Air Canada, flight attendants in final day before strike deadline

The union representing Air Canada's flight attendants has formally rejected the airline's request to enter binding arbitration. Air Canada had requested federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu step in and direct the parties to enter binding arbitration.   Now the Air Canada component of CUPE says Hajdu should also deny Air Canada's request for intervention saying --quote-- "Air Canada appears to have anticipated government intervention and has opted to suspend meaningful discussions, contrary to its legal obligation to bargain in good faith.''   Air Canada's executive vice-president has sa

Related News