Latest news with #LiberalCaucus
National Observer
4 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Even after the Justin Trudeau fallout, Liberal MPs still reject Reform Act rules
Liberal MPs voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise, newly elected Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney confirmed on Sunday. A majority of the caucus voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out under the decade-old Reform Act. That law was originated by Conservative MP Michael Chong to embolden individual MPs to hold their party leaders to account by allowing them to force leadership reviews, among other things. But Maloney refused to say anything more about the vote or the secret deliberations, insisting that should all remain private. 'The Reform Act was voted down,' Maloney said after the Liberals met for their first caucus meeting since the April 28 election. 'What happens in caucus stays in caucus, and you're going to hear me say that today, and tomorrow and every day going forward.' The internal debate was prompted by Liberal MPs who were frustrated former leader Justin Trudeau was able to remain at the helm despite numerous calls from within caucus for him to step aside. Adopting the Reform Act rules would have given Liberal MPs a road map for such situations. That's how the Conservatives ousted Erin O'Toole from the leadership after the Conservatives lost the 2021 election. The rules let a fifth of the party's MPs move to trigger a leadership review. Then, a majority vote would be required to eject the leader. Liberal MPs refused to talk about the outcome following their meeting on Sunday, but a few chimed in beforehand to share how they personally felt. Whitby MP Ryan Turnbull said he had planned to support adopting the rules because it's "important to have caucus accountability in every party." But Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma MP Terry Sheehan said he doesn't see the need for the new rules, which his party has never adopted. "I've come in with a pre-set mind that I will not be supporting the Reform Act because we don't need to. Our caucus is strong," he said. "Behind those doors right there, that's our caucus and we can let our hair down any time and have frank and open discussions." Prime Minister Mark Carney rallied his Liberal caucus Sunday afternoon with a speech that laid out his governing agenda for the re-opening of Parliament. The Liberals briefly let the TV cameras and reporters into their first caucus meeting since winning the April 28 election to watch Carney address his new colleagues. Carney said his government's immediate focus will be on affordability measures, such as quickly passing the tax cut he promised during the campaign. From dealing with a chaotic White House to building up the economy, he set the stakes high for his new MPs. "Our government has been elected to do nothing less than define a new economic and security relationship with the United States," he said. "Canadians also want their life to become more affordable. They want their communities safer. We will deliver these mandates with urgency and determination. We are going to get going from minute one." Carney said his ministers will immediately introduce legislation to fast-track infrastructure projects deemed to be in the national interest and bring in a bill to eliminate all federal barriers to free trade in Canada. Parliament returns on Monday to elect a new Speaker for the House of Commons, followed by a throne speech on Tuesday to be delivered by King Charles III. Carney promised his government would move at a brisk pace with "one of the most busy returns to Parliament in Canadian history." Parliament, however, is only scheduled to sit for a month before a pre-scheduled summer break until September, and the new government has not made time to table its budget until fall. Still, Carney said his minority government team will be "very, very busy" in not just the coming weeks, but also over the next few years, and accomplish things "previously thought impossible at speeds not seen in generations." The previous minority Parliament found itself gridlocked for months last year amid procedural obstructions, and the Trudeau government had largely failed to pass legislation or advance much of its agenda in its waning days in office. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said he has spoken to the House leaders of all the opposition parties and is hoping for a reset in relations in the new Parliament. "We are a minority government, so that obviously means that we need to attract support from all sides of the House to get anything done," he said. "At the same time, we believe very, very clearly that Canadians have given us a mandate, and I think it will be incumbent on all parties to respond to that mandate."
National Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Michael Higgins: Liberal caucus submits to Carney as it did to Trudeau
Contrary to what many in the West believe, some countries dislike democracy, preferring the strongman, the firm ruler, the dictator. Article content Article content So it is with the Liberals who have shunned accountability and democracy in favour of the autocratic leader. Article content Considering the problems the Liberals had with the last guy, it must be the case that some turkeys really do vote for Christmas. Article content Article content On Sunday, a majority of the Liberal caucus voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out in the Reform Act, a decade old law to give MPs more power. Article content Article content One of the central planks of the Reform Act would give caucus members the right to trigger a review of the party leader. Article content The private bill sponsored by Conservative Michael Chong passed its third reading in the House in 2014 with an impressive 260 votes for with only 17 against. Article content At the time, Chong said, 'I don't expect that all the rules will be adopted all at once, but in the long run, party caucuses will democratize themselves and empower themselves.' Article content After each federal election, parties vote on whether to adopt Reform Act rules or not. Article content The Liberals, despite overwhelmingly voting in favour of the act, have always chosen not to adopt it. Article content But the failure not to vote for it this time is baffling. Article content Former Liberal leader Justin Trudeau refused to relinquish power and attempts to get him to go bordered on the farcical. Article content During a caucus meeting last October, a letter from MPs was read to Trudeau urging him to step aside. The letter was signed by two dozen Liberal MPs, but such is the fear ingrained in MPs that the letter presented to Trudeau at the caucus meeting did not contain any names. Article content Article content Trudeau responded defiantly within 24 hours saying that he would be leading the Liberals into the next election. Article content Article content Many Liberal MPs critical of Trudeau preferred to remain anonymous with New Brunswick MP Wayne Long being one of the few who was open and vocal. Article content The calls within the party for Trudeau to go kept getting louder and yet the prime minister held on to power tenaciously, gripping it with his fingernails as events tried to prise him from it. By December, a majority of his caucus was demanding he resign; then Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland quit cabinet and with a twist of the knife accused Trudeau of 'political gimmicks,' and perhaps most damning was the lack of public support, the approval rating for Trudeau was at an all-time low and support for the Liberals stood at a mere 16 per cent. Article content In the face of all this, Trudeau went skiing and it wasn't until January that he bowed to the inevitable.
Toronto Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Even after the Justin Trudeau experience, Liberal MPs still reject Reform Act rules
OTTAWA - Liberal MPs voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise, newly elected Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney confirmed on Sunday. A majority of the caucus voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out under the decade-old Reform Act.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Even after the Justin Trudeau experience, Liberal MPs still reject Reform Act rules
OTTAWA - Liberal MPs voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise, newly elected Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney confirmed on Sunday. A majority of the caucus voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out under the decade-old Reform Act. That law was originated by Conservative MP Michael Chong to embolden individual MPs to hold their party leaders to account by allowing them to force leadership reviews, among other things. But Maloney refused to say anything more about the vote or the secret deliberations, insisting that should all remain private. 'The Reform Act was voted down,' Maloney said after the Liberals met for their first caucus meeting since the April 28 election. 'What happens in caucus stays in caucus, and you're going to hear me say that today, and tomorrow and every day going forward.' The internal debate was prompted by Liberal MPs who were frustrated former leader Justin Trudeau was able to remain at the helm despite numerous calls from within caucus for him to step aside. Adopting the Reform Act rules would have given Liberal MPs a road map for such situations. That's how the Conservatives ousted Erin O'Toole from the leadership after the Conservatives lost the 2021 election. The rules let a fifth of the party's MPs move to trigger a leadership review. Then, a majority vote would be required to eject the leader. Liberal MPs refused to talk about the outcome following their meeting on Sunday, but a few chimed in beforehand to share how they personally felt. Whitby MP Ryan Turnbull said he had planned to support adopting the rules because it's 'important to have caucus accountability in every party.' But Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma MP Terry Sheehan said he doesn't see the need for the new rules, which his party has never adopted. 'I've come in with a pre-set mind that I will not be supporting the Reform Act because we don't need to. Our caucus is strong,' he said. 'Behind those doors right there, that's our caucus and we can let our hair down any time and have frank and open discussions.' Prime Minister Mark Carney rallied his Liberal caucus Sunday afternoon with a speech that laid out his governing agenda for the re-opening of Parliament. The Liberals briefly let the TV cameras and reporters into their first caucus meeting since winning the April 28 election to watch Carney address his new colleagues. Carney said his government's immediate focus will be on affordability measures, such as quickly passing the tax cut he promised during the campaign. From dealing with a chaotic White House to building up the economy, he set the stakes high for his new MPs. 'Our government has been elected to do nothing less than define a new economic and security relationship with the United States,' he said. 'Canadians also want their life to become more affordable. They want their communities safer. We will deliver these mandates with urgency and determination. We are going to get going from minute one.' Carney said his ministers will immediately introduce legislation to fast-track infrastructure projects deemed to be in the national interest and bring in a bill to eliminate all federal barriers to free trade in Canada. Parliament returns on Monday to elect a new Speaker for the House of Commons, followed by a throne speech on Tuesday to be delivered by King Charles III. Carney promised his government would move at a brisk pace with 'one of the most busy returns to Parliament in Canadian history.' Parliament, however, is only scheduled to sit for a month before a pre-scheduled summer break until September, and the new government has not made time to table its budget until fall. Still, Carney said his minority government team will be 'very, very busy' in not just the coming weeks, but also over the next few years, and accomplish things 'previously thought impossible at speeds not seen in generations.' The previous minority Parliament found itself gridlocked for months last year amid procedural obstructions, and the Trudeau government had largely failed to pass legislation or advance much of its agenda in its waning days in office. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said he has spoken to the House leaders of all the opposition parties and is hoping for a reset in relations in the new Parliament. 'We are a minority government, so that obviously means that we need to attract support from all sides of the House to get anything done,' he said. 'At the same time, we believe very, very clearly that Canadians have given us a mandate, and I think it will be incumbent on all parties to respond to that mandate.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2025.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Liberals vote against adopting rules to allow caucus to oust leader
Prime Minister Mark Carney makes remarks at a meeting of the Liberal caucus, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Sunday, May 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA — Liberal caucus chair James Maloney says party MPs have voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise. A majority of Liberal MPs voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out under the ten-year-old Reform Act. That law was designed by Conservative MP Michael Chong to embolden individual MPs to hold their party leaders to account by allowing them to force leadership reviews. But Maloney is refusing to say anything more about the vote -- and insists any discussions that happen in caucus meetings should remain private. The internal debate was prompted by Liberal MPs upset that former leader Justin Trudeau was able to stay at the helm despite numerous calls from caucus for him to step aside. It was the same method the Conservatives used to oust Erin O'Toole from the leadership after the Conservatives lost the 2021 election. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2025.
