Liberal caucus meeting, as PM Trudeau faces fresh calls to resign in light of Freeland’s departure

The federal Liberal caucus has called an emergency Monday night caucus meeting, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing renewed calls from some members of his party to resign.

Liberal MPs from across the country are convening in a room on Parliament Hill, as politicians and political observers are still absorbing the shockwaves of Chrystia Freeland’s surprise resignation and release of a scathing letter to the prime minister.

Losing his deputy and the chaotic rollout of his government’s fall economic update, as a result, has revived questions about the viability of the embattled prime minister’s continued leadership.

Trudeau is in attendance at the caucus meeting, fresh off a snap visit to Rideau Hall to swear in his new minister of finance, longtime ally Dominic LeBlanc. A pool camera caught a shot of him speaking to his MPs through a window into the room.

According to sources, Freeland – who indicated she intends to stay on as a Liberal MP – is also in the room and received a standing ovation when she arrived.

Ahead of the meeting, some Liberal MPs who had previously publicly called on Trudeau to resign, as well as others, said the unfolding situation is indicative that the prime minister has “passed his shelf life.”

“If the prime minister remains, I believe he is the ballot question. Every Canadian, before they ask anything else, will be saying: ‘Do I want Justin Trudeau to stay prime minister or not?'” Anthony Housefather said in an interview with CTV News’ Chief Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos.

“Incumbents have a certain shelf life in a social media age, I believe the prime minister has passed that shelf life. And I think that for Canadians to have a real choice on the table… We need to have a different leader with a different vision for the Liberal Party, to be viable in the next election,” the Quebec Liberal MP said.

Housefather had asked Trudeau to resign months ago, both in writing and at caucus.

Appearing alongside him, former cabinet minister and current self-described “loyal” Liberal Ontario MP Helena Jaczek – who previously called for a secret ballot vote on Trudeau’s leadership – agreed.

“I have been observing what has been transpiring, both in Parliament and within caucus over the last several months … we are not able to bring Liberal policies forward in a constructive manner,” she said.

“I was hoping we would be working on a future platform for the next election where we would be discussing how we want to help Canadians and move forward. And that simply has not been occurring.”

Jaczek said that in her riding, she’s hearing that voters aren’t listening to the Liberals anymore, as the prime minister “just doesn’t represent what I want to see in a leader.”

Reacting to Freeland’s “bold” move in deciding to depart cabinet, New Brunswick Liberal MP Wayne Long called it “a devastating blow to the prime minister,” and one that he said means he should now step down.

“Time to go,” he said. “I would say prorogation and then a leadership contest.”

Noting Freeland is only the latest in now several senior Liberals leaving cabinet, Long said it’s “time for the prime minister to read the room, to listen to his colleagues, listen to the electorate, look at the polling that hasn’t moved in a year.”

Despite these comments from their colleagues, a number of Liberal MPs continue to express their confidence in Trudeau.

Others have indicated they think, as Ontario Liberal MP John McKay put it, “some explanation probably is in order.”

A previous effort to push the prime minister to reconsider running again as Liberal leader largely fizzled, upon the re-election of Donald Trump as U.S. president last month.

Compounding the pressure the prime minister is facing, the only remaining dance partner for his Liberal minority government is the NDP, but today Leader Jagmeet Singh added his voice to those calling for Trudeau to go, raising the likelihood of an early election.

It remains to be seen whether Trudeau will speak publicly on Monday about the still-unfolding series of events.

With files from CTV News’ Vassy Kapelos

This is a developing story, check back for updates…