Liberals don't deserve a second chance despite Trudeau's resignation: Poilievre

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OTTAWA — As Canada’s prime minister announced his resignation plan on Monday,  Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre questioned the timing of Monday’s announcement.

In a video statement issued early Monday afternoon, Poilievre accused Justin Trudeau’s cabinet and caucus mates of propping up an unpopular leader until it became clear he was leading the party to certain ruin.

“Given that Liberal MPs and leadership contenders unanimously supported everything Trudeau has done, why dump him now right before an election?” Poilievre said.

“Have they had a change of heart? Is it because they feel guilty that they doubled housing costs, hiked taxes, unleashed crime, broke immigration and forced a quarter of the population into poverty?”

Poilievre said Liberals continued supporting the PM until he became too unpopular for the party’s good.

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“They want to protect their pensions and paycheques by sweeping their hated leader under the rug months before an election to trick you, and then do it all over again.”

Speaking to reporters from Toronto, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Trudeau and his government let Canadians down — and it doesn’t matter who takes the reins of the Liberal party, as they’re more interested in their own interests than those of everyday Canadians.

“Frankly, it’s not just Justin Trudeau — it’s every Liberal minister and MP who looked down their nose at you when people were saying we can’t make ends meet and are struggling with the cost of living,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter who the next Liberal leader is, they’ve let you down, and they do not deserve another chance.”

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney — who also played a peripheral role in last month’s high-profile resignation of former finance minister Chrystia Freeland — took to social media to thank Trudeau.

“Thank you, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for your leadership, for your many contributions to Canada, and for the sacrifices you and your family have made for public service,” he posted on X.

“Wishing you the best for your next chapters.”

Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie praised Trudeau, saying, “public office is a difficult job.

“It’s hard on people who do the work and hard on their families. I am certain this was not an easy decision,” she said in a statement Monday afternoon.

Spadina-Fort York MP Kevin Vuong, who sits as an independent, accused Trudeau of putting his interests ahead of the party.

“By proroguing Parliament instead of calling an election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s final act was to put himself and the Liberal Party ahead of Canadians,” he told The Toronto Sun. 

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume