Gould Sparks Controversy Among Liberal MPs on Whether They Have Lost Canadian Trust

Liberal leadership contender Karina Gould sparked a thoughtful discussion within her party’s caucus by stating that Canadians had “lost trust” in the Liberals during the later years of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure.

During the Liberal caucus meeting in Ottawa on Friday, some lawmakers disagreed with this sentiment, attributing the party’s issues to becoming too insular in recent times.

“No, I don’t agree with that at all,” stated Housing Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith in response to Gould’s assertion.

“Everyone is vying for success in their own way. Do I believe everyone is still listening to the prime minister after nine years? That’s just how Canadian politics works. Politicians tend to lose public interest after holding a leadership position for a prolonged period,” he added.

“I don’t think we have lost touch,” MP Marcus Powlowski expressed.

MP Pam Damoff, a supporter of Gould, acknowledged that Canadians may have “lost trust in many things since the pandemic,” endorsing Gould’s call to rebuild trust.

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MP Patrick Weiler attributed the party’s issues to lack of engagement with Canadians and outside experts, emphasizing the need for broader interactions beyond the Prime Minister’s Office.

Gould, positioning herself as a youthful candidate capable of revitalizing the party, stressed the importance of acknowledging and addressing the lost trust among Canadians.

MP Francis Drouin acknowledged the challenge faced by any government after a decade in power, stating that losing touch with the public can be a common occurrence.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller, while not entirely aligning with Gould’s viewpoint, acknowledged the prevailing sentiment due to recent events.

“We’ve been inwardly focused, and that’s unfortunate,” Miller commented. “We need to engage with Canadians on their concerns.”

MP Anita Vandenbeld, endorsing former finance minister Chrystia Freeland for the leadership, disagreed with Gould’s assessment, stating that trust in politicians, in general, has been diminished.

Freeland called for four leadership debates and urged candidates to commit to running under the party banner in the next election, irrespective of the winner.

Gould’s campaign agreed with Freeland’s proposals. Gould stepped down from her role as House leader to pursue the leadership bid, leading to Steven MacKinnon’s appointment as her replacement.

The candidates are shifting focus to Quebec, with various events and endorsements lined up in the province.

The party is currently assessing candidate applications to determine the final list of contenders for the upcoming leadership election.

The deadline for new member sign-ups is approaching, and candidates are required to pay an entry fee by a specified date to remain in contention.