Liberals vote against adopting rules to allow caucus to oust leader

By Canadian Press on May 25, 2025.

OTTAWA — Liberal caucus chair James Maloney says party MPs have voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise.

A majority of Liberal MPs voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out under the ten-year-old Reform Act.

That law was designed by Conservative MP Michael Chong to embolden individual MPs to hold their party leaders to account by allowing them to force leadership reviews.

But Maloney is refusing to say anything more about the vote — and insists any discussions that happen in caucus meetings should remain private.

The internal debate was prompted by Liberal MPs upset that former leader Justin Trudeau was able to stay at the helm despite numerous calls from caucus for him to step aside.

It was the same method the Conservatives used to oust Erin O’Toole from the leadership after the Conservatives lost the 2021 election.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2025.

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press

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