Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal says Justin Trudeau needs to resign “immediately,” making him the latest MP to call on the prime minister to step down.
He said this in a letter to the federal Liberals and the party president, which he shared on his X social media account Friday.
The Calgary-Skyview MP says over the last six months, he’s made “every effort to find an elegant way forward — showing respect for the history, leader, political process, and the caucus.”
“It’s unfortunate our efforts, the clear message delivered in multiple byelections by Canadians have not resonated. Our leadership is not hearing Canadians, and many Liberals are sounding the alarm,” he said.
He says the Liberal Party should schedule and expedite a “transparent and democratic” leadership process, rather than a “secret conclave” choosing a new leader.
“The Liberal caucus should elect an interim leader who can lead the government over the next 60-75 days,” he said. “I strongly encourage the board to ratify this democratic selection.”
Chahal’s letter comes after the party hit a severe rough patch when Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet in a letter before the budget update.
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She says she hasn’t seen eye-to-eye with Trudeau on dealing with the upcoming Trump administration and his 25 per cent tariff threat.
MP Sean Fraser announced his resignation hours beforehand, citing a back injury and a need to spend more time with family, while MP Randy Boissonnault resigned as employment minister following a scandal over his Indigenous identity.
Calls for Trudeau to resign growing
While Liberal MPs are leaving or choosing not to run again, calls for Trudeau to resign are ringing louder by the day.
MP Sean Casey was one of the first to ask the prime minister to resign publicly in October, and Chahal says he and eight other MPs called for a caucus meeting, which was followed by over two dozen MPs asking Trudeau to “reflect.”
“We spoke but there has been no change,” Chahal said in his letter.
At least 17 Liberals have called for Trudeau to step down following Freeland’s resignation, including Toronto MP Rob Oliphant. Oliphant in a letter posted on social media that party faithful in his riding told him Trudeau has “become a key obstacle” to progress.
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And recently, former chief adviser and close friend to Trudeau Gerald Butts wrote in a Substack newsletter he doesn’t think the prime minister will stay on to lead the Liberals in the next election.
His post came the same day the Conservatives said they would move to bring down the Liberal government as early as the end of January, by first moving a non-confidence motion in a House committee that will sit on Jan. 7.
The opposition parties have also said they would vote non-confidence, including Singh, who has supported the Liberal minority government in the past few years.
MPs will return to Ottawa on Jan. 27.
With files from The Canadian Press