Liberal backbencher, former cabinet minister call on Trudeau to go

Justin Trudeau back in the GTA for the first time since the Liberal stunning loss in the historically safe writing of Toronto St. Paul's earlier this week insisting his sights are set on the next federal election. Everyone starts that election with zero votes. But the embrace from some in his own caucus is not as warm. CBC News has obtained an e-mail sent by Liberal MP Wayne Long to the entire caucus. He writes. For the future of our party and for the good of our country, we need new leadership and a new direction. The voters have spoken loud and clear. They want change. I agree. And then there's this. I heard him on more than one occasion say that there is a campaign to push the Prime Minister out the door. And this freelance columnist for the Toronto Star says he overheard Trudeau's environment minister making phone calls to Liberals while waiting for a train discussing the internal unhappiness surrounding Trudeau. If we're not trying to address it, it will fester, Stephen Gilbo reportedly said. And it makes it more difficult for the boss to stay. The last thing we should do is ignore this. He was not 100% sure that the Prime Minister could survive this. Trudeau's former environment minister first told CBC News she believes it's time for him to go. It's time for new ideas, a new energy and a new leader. There's too much at stake in this election, especially on the economy and the climate, Catherine McKenna said in a statement. This pollster says that grumbling may only grow. I think we we expected a close race in Toronto Center, but losing it is a symbol of how far I think the Liberal Party, and Mr. Trudeau in particular, has has fallen, Gilbo said in a statement. One sided conversations do not reflect the open and honest exchanges he routinely has with colleagues, and Trudeau has his full support. The Prime Minister's Office has declined to comment. Rafi Bujikani on CBC News Ottawa. Let's bring in David Cochran, host of Power and Politics. So, David, we've heard from a former cabinet minister and now a sitting MP. How significant is all of this? Yeah, Ian, to this point, there's been a lot of public talk from former Liberals about the need for the Prime Minister to go. But this e-mail from Wayne Long, that is the first open push for change from inside the current Liberal caucus. Some context though, Wayne Long disagree with the Prime Minister in the past and he's not running again. The 1st reply to Longs e-mail was from Newfound MP Ken McDonald who wrote Well said with an exclamation point. But that's another predict of the Prime Minister who's also not running again. To this point, nobody who is sticking around has publicly said Trudeau must go and that would clearly be another tipping point. The problem Ian, is that once it starts, it doesn't stop. Others pile on. It fuels media stories. It makes it impossible for cabinet ministers and MPs to do public events without this being the thing everyone wants to talk about. So they need to get caucus settled and on board or a reset and a rebound. It's just impossible. And So what are the options for the Prime Minister to deal with this? Well, the MPs I heard from want change, either a change in leader, a change in senior staff or a change in cabinet. And right now, Justin Trudeau's not going anywhere. Changing his senior staff might make caucus happy, but does nothing to really help them with voters. So that leaves cabinet. But even there, there's risk. Toronto St. Paul's was vacant because they shuffled the cabinet last year. Carolyn Bennett left, they lost the seat. There's another by election coming up in Montreal. David Lametti dropped from cabinet the same time as Bennett. He quit his seat, and that seat is now at risk. So does yet another cabinet shuffle spark yet another retirement, and yet another by election they may not win, but can't afford to lose. So really, they're stuck between this loud internal demand for change and the reality that big change could make things even worse for them publicly and politically. It is a long weekend, David, but keep your phone on. Alright? Thanks again.