A backbench MP has become the first sitting member of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party caucus to call for his resignation following a devastating by-election loss. Wayne Long expressed in an email to fellow party members, obtained by Canadian media, that new leadership was essential “for the future of our party and for the good of our country.”

Long, representing a riding in New Brunswick, stated, “the voters have spoken loud and clear and they want a change.” This comes after the Liberals lost a Toronto seat they had held since 1993 in Monday’s by-election.

Long, who has been an MP since 2015 and previously announced he would not seek re-election, received support from Newfoundland MP Ken McDonald, who replied to Long’s email with, “well said!”

In the wake of the by-election defeat, former Liberal politicians have also urged Trudeau to step down. Catherine McKenna, former environment minister, stated, “The Liberal Party isn’t about one person. It’s about the values it stands for and it’s about improving the lives of Canadians,” and emphasized the need for new leadership.

Former British Columbia Liberal Premier Christy Clark echoed similar sentiments in an interview with the Toronto Star, noting that Trudeau “does not have the pull with voters he once had” and is struggling to motivate even his party’s core supporters.

Despite these calls, Trudeau, who has been prime minister since 2015, vowed to remain as Liberal leader, acknowledging the challenging times and the need for his team to work harder to achieve real progress for Canadians.

The next federal election is scheduled for 20 October 2025. The recent by-election saw the Conservatives narrowly win the Toronto-St Paul’s seat by just over 500 votes. Trudeau’s popularity has significantly declined due to various issues, including cost-of-living pressures, with a recent Ipsos poll for Global News indicating that 68% of Canadians want him to step down.