Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal joins growing chorus of Liberals calling for Trudeau to step down

Calgary MP George Chahal publicly posted letters calling for Justin Trudeau to resign as Liberal leader .(file)

Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal has publicly released letters he sent to the Liberal caucus and president of the Liberal Party of Canada, calling on them to begin the process of moving on from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Calgary Skyview representative posted the letters to the social media platform X on Friday.

Chahal’s letter to caucus said, “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau no longer has the support of caucus and to maintain some dignity, he should immediately tender his resignation.”

He noted Chrystia Freeland’s recent and vocal walking away from her roles as finance minister and deputy prime minister.

He also noted others speaking out since.

Chahal went on to say, “Caucus working with the Liberal Party of Canada board should start the immediate process of scheduling an expedited leadership process which is transparent and democratic.”

Chahal’s letter to party president Sachit Mehra opened with, “Time is of the essence!”

He urged the party board to “immediately plan for a leadership (race) regardless of the prime minister’s formal resignation.”

He noted it being the final year before a fixed election date.

He also noted the potential for other parties to rally to defeat the government.

“It is my view that it would be political negligence by the LPC board not to plan for the race,” Chahal wrote.

“It is clear now the leader of the Liberal Party no longer has the confidence of his parliamentary caucus and the vast majority of Canadians.”

In the letter to caucus, Chahal did thank Trudeau for his service and wished him well.

“Unfortunately, it has come to this,” he wrote.

Tipping point

Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt said Chahal was part of a growing chorus of Liberal caucus members joining the bandwagon to dump Trudeau.

“Forget surviving a non-confidence vote in Parliament,” Bratt said. “I don’t know if he will be able to survive a non-confidence vote in caucus.”

Bratt said the resignation of Freeland from caucus may have been the tipping point, but it was also part of a pattern of Liberal MPs distancing themselves from Trudeau.

He added that it appears the party is moving forward in the absence of an official resignation from Trudeau and begun to put in motion plans for a leadership race.

On Friday, former chief adviser and close friend of Justin Trudeau Gerald Butts wrote in a Substack column that Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet was a “staggering blow” to Trudeau.

He wrote that the Liberals are back now to where they were before Trudeau took over the party in 2013, in terms of their popularity and voters viewing them as out-of-touch.

He said in his Substack piece that the party should prepare to hold a leadership race.

The 10 year limit

Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams said in an email to CTV News that it wasn't Chahal's first time calling for Trudeau's resignation, but it "does add to the momentum" for Trudeau to step down, adding the caveat that it "pales in comparison to Freeland's letter and Ontario caucus consensus."

"Increasingly questions are emerging about who will take his place, and whether they can stabilize things sufficiently to lead an effective response to the incoming Trump administration," Williams said.

Mount Royal University political science professor Lori Williams

She also referenced a Canadian tendency to reject the Prime Minister after around a decade in office, which also happened to Justin's father Pierre, Brian Mulroney, Jean Chretien and Stephen Harper, among others.

"Part of this is the 10-year-limit," Williams said, "but much more can be traced to a more general voter malaise.

"Affordability concerns, linked to housing and immigration, have taken down almost every incumbent running for re-election in Europe and North America," she added.

"At the very least," Williams said, "they have lost support because people are desperate for change."

With files from The Canadian Press