Two dissident Liberal MPs who are calling on their boss Justin Trudeau to step down, said the Prime Minister is “delusional” on Wednesday in an interview with the CBC.
Liberal MPs Wayne Long of New Brunswick’s Saint John—Rothesay riding, and Chad Collins, who represents Ontario’s Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, told Matt Galloway on The Current that their boss is living in a false reality, and likened their party to the Titanic.
“To me the Prime Minister is clearly living in a delusional, false reality. He just — those around him are doing him a disservice,” said Mr. Long. “We are heading for destruction of the party if we continue with him as leader.”
He said Trudeau “feels he knows what’s best for the electorate and for the country better than the electorate and the country.”
He added: “There’s no question about that, you can see it in his tone, you can see it in what he says, he feels he knows best, and he also feels that no matter what is happening come election time it is going to be okay.”
Asked why more people aren’t signing their names to a non-confidence vote, or the internal letter circulating the Liberal ranks calling on Trudeau to step down, Mr. Long said it’s human nature to show loyalty.
However, he said he thinks the firing of Freeland from her role as Finance Minister, and her damning resignation letter from caucus that following, could be the tipping point.
MP Collins agreed, saying, “I think the actions the Prime Minister took with Ms. Freeland shows them that now is the time.”
Mr. Collins described the circus that followed Freeland’s letter, specifically the emergency meeting the Liberals held where Trudeau addressed Liberal MPs, as a “sad and sombre event.”
“Most people in the room looked at her as a victim,” he said.
He further said he doesn’t believe the Prime MInister enjoys the confidence of caucus, suggesting “several dozen” MPs are against him.
Since Freeland’s open letter to Trudeau on Monday morning that accused him of “costly political gimmicks,” the Prime Minister has not taken any questions from reporters, and skipped out on Question Period in the House of Commons, which is now in a 6-week recess.
