Liberal Party exodus continues as five senior staffers quit

Five chiefs of staff for Liberal ministers have quit, in what is the latest group of senior Liberal staffers jumping ship.

The Globe and Mail first reported the exodus, which comes days after the NDP announced they were ending their coalition deal with the Liberals that shielded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s party from non-confidence votes. 

“Five of his 38 ministers are losing their chiefs of staff in quick succession with several already gone, including the top advisers at Global Affairs, Heritage, Environment, National Revenue, and Mental Health and Addictions, according to six Liberal sources who each confirmed some of the names of those leaving,” the Globe and Mail reported.

The development also comes days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s national campaign director, Jeremy Broadhurst, abruptly quit, allegedly claiming that he doesn’t believe the Liberals can win the next election.

The next election isn’t slated until October 2025. However, with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s announcement that he’s ending his pact with the Liberal Party, an election could be triggered any day.

If a confidence motion is tabled and the majority of MPs vote against the current government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be forced to dissolve parliament and face the music.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberals begin their fall caucus meeting in Nanaimo, BC, on Monday, though some MPs are reportedly opting out of showing up.

Carney speaking

Mark Carney, who’s been rumoured to replace Trudeau as the Liberal leader, will speak at the event. 

Carney, an economist who served as the Bank of Canada Governor and more recently as the Bank of England Governor, hasn’t publicly expressed an intention to become Trudeau’s successor — though he said last year that he hadn’t ruled it out.