By Talar Stockton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yukon News
December 20, 2024
The Member of Parliament for the Yukon is making his stance clear on the leadership of the Liberal Party.
“I do think that the leader needs to, that, that Prime Minister Trudeau does need to step down as leader of the Liberal Party, at least to, to really signal and show a pathway to, to leadership,” said Brendan Hanley, who was elected to serve as the territory’s MP in Ottawa in the 2021 election. He is a Liberal MP.
The Prime Minister’s leadership has been under close scrutiny since October, when members of the Liberal caucus confronted Trudeau during a caucus meeting to ask him to step down as Leader of the party going into next year’s election. Hanley told the News on Dec. 19 that he was one of the MPs. He said he was asking for a secret ballot in order to allow caucus members to make their views clear in a non-intimidating way.
“I was able then to participate in a conversation as part of the caucus executive, because I’m chair of the Prairies and North regional caucus, and then at national caucus, to actually stand up and say, really, Yukoners are asking you to, to step aside, as leader and please, can you, can you reflect on that and make your decision, recognizing that it still is within his purview to make that decision,” said Hanley.
Hanley said he addressed his concerns in a personal conversation with Trudeau over the summer as well.
Hanley said there is no one reason why people are asking for a change in leadership. However, he said he did think Pierre Poilievre’s approach to “blame everything on Justin Trudeau” has augmented those sentiments. Longevity is another factor in those feelings, said Hanley.
“Nine years into any mandate or any leadership, people start to to question, how much longer, how much longer can he or she still be effective?” said Hanley.
The News asked Hanley about his thoughts regarding the chances of the Liberal Party forming government in next year’s federal election.
“Obviously, we are facing a huge uphill battle, even to, to be the opposition party, let alone, say a potential minority government. I think, I do think that the chances of that with Prime Minister Trudeau, with Justin Trudeau as leader, are zero or close to zero,” said Hanley in response. “I think the chance of it with a new leader is there. I don’t know whether that’s 5 per cent, 10 per cent, twenty per cent, but I do think there is a possibility.”
He said that from what he has heard, many voters do not want to vote for Pierre Poilievre or the Conservatives – but they need an alternative.
“If I’m speaking politically, that’s where I think we have, we have a chance with renewed vision, renewed leadership, that we could actually hold on to a number of seats that currently we will likely lose, and potentially even form a, form a government.”
Hanley did not offer suggestions as to who he thinks should replace Trudeau as leader. He said he is aware of certain names circulating.
“There may be people we’re not even thinking about who could be very suitable candidates. So I’m not going to go there yet,” said Hanley.
Hanley, who is still in his first term as MP, said he does believe Trudeau has been a “fabulous” and “transformative” leader.
“We really have, since the Harper era, I think, transformed the approach into a progressive government that has invested in Canadians,” said Hanley.
Subscribe to our newsletter.
“And whether it’s been with me in personal conversation or in caucus conversations, I’ve always wanted to express that he’s been an amazing leader, but this is the time for a change.”