OTTAWA — Should she become leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Chrystia Freeland is proposing to put in place a mechanism for the party to turf their unpopular leaders.
Arguing that the decision for a leader to remain in their post “is not theirs alone,” Freeland explained in a press release that she would immediately convene the Liberal caucus and the membership to develop and institute a new process to force a leadership review.
“This could include automatic leadership reviews at biennial conventions, or an ability for caucus to trigger a vote by the national membership,” reads the press release.
“Chrystia intends for a new process — not decided by the Leader — to be put in place as soon as possible following the 2025 federal election.”
In recent months, many Liberal MPs pointed to the party’s lack of mechanisms to trigger a leadership review in explaining why they felt they could not force a vote to decide if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should remain as leader despite his unpopularity in the polls.
Unlike the Conservatives, the Liberals have opted to not use the powers in the Reform Act which would have made it possible for MPs to remove their leader with a secret ballot.
Trudeau ultimately announced in early January he would resign once his successor was chosen. But it came after the Ontario, Atlantic and Quebec caucuses — representing a vast majority of Liberal MPs — called on him to step down over the winter break.
Freeland’s proposition to put in place a new process would ensure that Liberal MPs don’t find themselves in that same position in the future.
On Thursday, Freeland and fellow leadership contender Karina Gould put forward their ideas to renew the Liberal party.
Both promised to bring back policy conventions, with Freeland promising they would include “accountability sessions” with the leader and members of cabinet. They also both promised to restore a national director position for the Young Liberals of Canada.
Gould said she was committed to meeting on an annual basis with all local riding association president across the country and said it is time to decentralize the party.
“One of the reasons why I think we lost touch over the past couple of years is because we weren’t listening to our membership,” she said in a press conference in Ottawa.
Former central banker Mark Carney, Freeland and Gould have all submitted their nomination papers and first deposit of $50,000 to the party, as have Liberal MP Chandra Arya and former Liberal MP Frank Baylis, before the deadline of 5 p.m. today.
The next Liberal leader will be announced on March 9.
National Post
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