Liberal caucus meeting underway with a number of MPs set to ask Trudeau to step down

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's caucus is meeting this morning for its weekly gathering, this time with much higher stakes, as an evolving number of MPs is expected to confront the leader and ask him to step down.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s caucus is meeting this morning for its weekly gathering, this time with much higher stakes, as an evolving number of MPs is expected to confront the leader and ask him to step down.

The highly anticipated meeting is underway behind closed doors. It comes after a group of MPs organized behind the scenes for the last two weeks to ask the prime minister to reconsider his political future at the helm of the Liberal Party.

It’s unclear exactly how many MPs are part of the effort to oust him, though sources involved in organizing the letter tell CTV News it’s at least twenty, largely from Atlantic Canada and southwestern Ontario.

Many MPs and cabinet ministers have also insisted they support the prime minister.

While some have been more overt in their dissent — including longtime Liberal MP Sean Casey, who confirmed on Monday he’d signed a letter asking Trudeau to resign — some have tiptoed around the issue, refusing to directly say whether they support the prime minister, and saying instead this is an opportunity for a caucus discussion.

The Liberals have faced lacklustre polling numbers for more than a year, sometimes trailing behind the Conservatives by more than 20 points.

Plus, two recent significant byelection losses in traditionally safe Liberal seats, coupled with the end of the supply-and-confidence agreement with the NDP, have led to a more precarious Parliament. Minority government dynamics are in play, as is a looming ultimatum from the Bloc Québécois to potentially work with the other parties to topple the Liberals if they don’t ensure two Bloc-led bills become law.