Minister Duclos: Liberals Unprepared for Upcoming Federal Election
Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos warns that the Liberals need to step up their game ahead of the next federal election.
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, Liberals, Jean-Yves Duclos, Pierre Poilievre, NDP, Trudeau
Gatineau: So, it looks like the Liberals are in a bit of a pickle. Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos recently admitted they haven’t done enough to gear up for the next federal election. He mentioned this during an interview where he dodged questions about Prime Minister Trudeau’s future.
Duclos stressed that the party really needs to help Canadians see the difference between a Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre and the current Liberal administration. He said they need to ramp up their pre-campaign efforts to make that clear.
He’s got a big role in prepping the party for the upcoming election, especially in Quebec, where there are 78 ridings at stake. With the NDP planning to introduce a non-confidence motion soon, the pressure is on.
Last September was a wake-up call for the Liberals when they lost a byelection in a stronghold in Montreal. That defeat, along with another loss in Toronto, really shook things up. Duclos was appointed as Quebec lieutenant right after that, replacing someone who left to run for the Quebec Liberal Party leadership.
He acknowledged that the criticism about their pre-election strategy was valid. The government has been busy tackling various issues, like the housing crisis, but he believes they’ve made progress since November. They’ve got a new campaign director and have been updating MPs on their plans for ads and candidate announcements.
Duclos also hinted that the political climate in the U.S., especially with Trump possibly coming back, is adding to their challenges. He said it’s tough for the team to find the energy to prepare for the campaign while also dealing with that situation.
When asked about Trudeau’s leadership, Duclos was pretty vague. With Chrystia Freeland stepping down recently, tensions in the party are high. More MPs are calling for Trudeau to step aside, and he hasn’t been talking to the press since Freeland’s resignation.
Duclos mentioned that everyone, including Trudeau, is aware of the crisis and is focused on finding a way to recover and unite the party to keep building a better Canada.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on December 20, 2024.