Liberal backbencher calls for Trudeau to resign in email to caucus

Liberal backbencher Wayne Long has sent an email to caucus calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign asleader after the party lost a Toronto-area riding that's been solidly Liberal for decades earlier this week.

The New Brunswick MPis the first Liberal caucus memberto openly call for Trudeau's resignation sinceTuesday's byelection upset in Toronto-St. Paul's.

"For the future of our party and for the good of our country, we need new leadership and a new direction," Longwrote in an email obtained by CBC News.

"The voters have spoken loud and clear they want change. I agree."

The Saint John-RothesayMP, who has spoken out against his government in the past,is not re-offering in the next election.

WATCH | Former cabinet minister also asks for new leader:

Liberal backbencher, former cabinet minister call on Trudeau to go

2 months ago

Duration 3:55

New Brunswick Liberal MP Wayne Long has circulated an email to caucus calling for Justin Trudeau to quit as party leader after a recent shock byelection loss in Toronto. This comes after a statement to CBC News from former cabinet minister Catherine McKenna called for new energy and a new leader.

Newfoundland and LabradorMP Ken McDonald responded to the emailwith, "Well said!"

He later told CBC News he liked how Longarticulated himself but isn't calling for Trudeau to resign.

The Avalon MP, who has voted against his own party twice on the carbon tax, said it's the prime minister'sdecision to make alone, but stressed the need for an urgent, in-person caucus meeting with Trudeau.

According to sources who have seen the email chain, Kingston MP Mark Gerretsenasked members to stop hitting reply-all.

Trudeau, who has not taken questions from reporters since the byelection, has insisted he plans to stay on as leader.

"I and my entire team have much more hard work to do to deliver tangible, real progress that Canadians can see and feel," he said in a media statement this week.

Before this week's vote, a Conservative candidate hadn't been competitive in Toronto-St. Paul's since the 1980s. The party hadn't won a seat in urban Toronto since the 2011 federal election.

Conservative Don Stewart secured the breakthrough, beatingLiberal candidate Leslie Churchby 590 votes.

CBC has reached out to Long for comment.

In 2017, hewas kicked off two parliamentary committees after he supporteda failed Conservative motion related to proposedsmall business tax changes.