Reaction continues to pour in following the resignation of Justin Trudeau as federal Liberal leader and Prime Minister.
As a result, parliament has been prorogued until March 24th – Trudeau will stay on in both roles until a successor is found.
UNBC Political Science Lecturer, Jason Morris told Vista Radio he isn’t a fan of government being halted until the Liberals clean up their house.
“I think it is a bit irresponsible to prorogue parliament. If parliament is being shut down to give time for the Liberals to line up a new leader candidate to be selected, that means the government can’t fall and we cannot see an election unless the prime minister requests it. It could be argued that the party is putting itself ahead of Canadians in Parliament.”
As for Trudeau sticking around for the time being, Morris stated it makes an already tense situation all the more unsettling.
“Usually when a person is done their job they clean out their desk drawers and, hand over the office keys and leave for new pastures. In fact, in our parliamentary system, we have a Deputy Prime Minister that could assume the role and keep parliament going while every thng is sorted out. Parliament could continue this way.”
“The boss is staying on the job for now and that is an odd thing – a prime minister that we know is not going to be the prime minister can mean that Canada’s top political position is going to continue to make decisions without the moral authority to govern and without any legitimacies to do so in the eyes of the public and the world.”
When asked what Trudeau’s legacy will be, Morris mentioned while it will be a complicated one especially towards the end of his tenure – two positive highlights stand out.
“I suppose if Trudeau were asked about his legacy he would look to his deeply-held values about encouraging and promoting more multiculturalism and diversity in Canada as well as some gender equity and contributing to those same values across the world through contributions to other countries.”
“In Canada, our political parties have rigorous means for choosing their leaders but it’s almost always messy removing a leader. We have been dealing with this since the last election and mostly leaders get dragged from office when wouldn’t. Wouldn’t Canadians prefer these people ride off into the sunset after giving their best to the country?”
Retired Prince George-Valemount MLA, Shirley Bond stated even with Trudeau leaving the picture at some point, the Liberals are still in a tough spot.
“I think it is going to be a very challenging period of time for Canada and it is also going to be a challenging time for the Liberal party when you are in the position of having to find a leader within a very truncated period of time – that is going to be challenging as well.”
“It is going to be very interesting to watch the process that the Liberal Party of Canada puts in place to choose a leader in a short amount of time. There will be people who are very concerned about the timing of this announcement and what does it to the Liberal Party of Canada finding a new leader.”
Bond, who spent six terms in the provincial legislature with many of those years as part of the BC Liberals who enjoyed a 16-year run as the governing party knows as well as anyone the pressure you have to perform under while in public office.
“When you put your name on a ballot it is a very significant thing and serving one’s country is challenging. I think we do need to stop and reflect on public service and it’s easy to be critical, it’s easy to look at what hasn’t been done but public service is tough.”
When asked if one of the candidates to replace Trudeau could be former BC Premier Christy Clark, Bond didn’t lean one way or the other.
“I am not going to speculate as to whether or not she is going to put her name in the ring. I know it is always challenging when you have someone from the west, but I think what we need to see is who steps up and who is the best organized because it is going to be a very intense period of time as we look to who the leader of that party might become.”
“Christy’s name is in the mix and I can honestly say that I have no idea whether or not she will step forward and put her name in as the potential leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.”
Other candidates to replace Trudeau include Mark Carney, former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as well as Intergovernmental Affairs head Dominic Leblanc.
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