Liberals lose 3rd special election as calls grow for Canada PM Trudeau to step down

Canada’s ruling Liberals lost a special election in British Columbia on Tuesday, deepening the political struggles of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The loss followed the resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday, citing policy disagreements with Trudeau.

Opinion polls over the past 18 months indicate the Liberals could face a significant defeat in the next election, with the Conservatives poised to gain ground. In the 2021 election, the Liberals won with 39% of the vote, narrowly ahead of the Conservatives at 36%.

Elections Canada said the Conservatives had taken 66% of Monday’s vote in the constituency of Cloverdale—Langley City with the Liberals in second at 16%. The election was held to fill a vacant seat.

The defeat marked the third time in a row that the Liberals had lost a special election to the Conservatives.

Angry Liberal legislators met Trudeau on Monday night, with some repeating calls for him to go.

“We’re not united. There’s still a number of our members who feel we need a change in leadership,” said Chad Collins, a legislator from Ontario, Canada’s most populous province and a Liberal stronghold.

“I think the only path forward for us is to choose a new leader and to present a new plan to Canadians with a different vision,” he said after the meeting.

Trudeau aides declined to answer questions about what he might do next. Global News cited two sources as saying Trudeau was not in a mindset to resign.

While he cannot be forced out by his caucus, he may find it harder to stay in office if enough Parliamentarians openly call on him to go. So far only a handful have done so.

In another blow, the traditionally pro-Liberal Toronto Star - the largest circulation newspaper in Canada - on Tuesday ran an editorial saying it was time for Trudeau to leave.

With inputs from agencies.