by John Hayward
Members of the Liberal Party of Canada are calling for a secret ballot to determine if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should step down as the leader of the party, Canadian media reported on Monday.
“I’m very much in favor of a secret ballot. I think it’s time that we clear the air,” Liberal MP Helena Jaczek told CTV News on Monday.
Jaczek said she had “no idea” if Trudeau would reconsider his determination to remain as party leader and prime minister candidate against the Conservative Party, which is currently about 20 points ahead in the polls.
“I would hope that he is considering what he heard from his caucus, from a number of people in his caucus, I think that is significant. Our duty is to report to the prime minister what is going on in our constituencies, and a number of people shared that information,” she said.
Jaczek was referring to a feisty caucus meeting last Wednesday in which Liberal back-benchers lashed out at the increasingly unpopular Trudeau and asked him to step aside.
The unhappy Liberals wrote Trudeau a letter, setting Monday as the deadline to make his decision, but he did not even wait that long, insisting shortly after the caucus meeting that he would remain as party leader.
“I do think that a secret ballot where everyone agrees to accept the results of that vote would help ensure unity with the caucus, unity within our party,” Ontario MP Yvan Baker told CTV, seconding Jaczek’s sentiments.
“Frankly, a secret ballot is the best way for MPs to vote without being worried about consequences or attribution of any kind,” Baker added, pointing to one of the major reasons the rebels want a secret ballot. Some of them are convinced the number of Liberals who wish to oust Trudeau is much larger than the handful who have signed a petition to that effect, but they are afraid to speak out because Trudeau will retaliate against them.