Image Credit: The Canadian Press

By James Peters

Two and Out

PETERS: Facing caucus revolt, Justin Trudeau could learn from Joe Biden

Oct 25, 2024 | 12:30 PM

JUSTIN TRUDEAU could learn from the lesson of Joe Biden.

You’ll remember Biden was adamant he was going to run for re-election for the Democratic Party this year.

As his slowdown became more and more apparent, the calls came for him to step aside — those spooky calls from inside the house.

Eventually, he did — and just in the nick of time.

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Any later, and the shift to Kamala Harris as the candidate would have been too difficult for the party to make.

Harris brought an entirely different level of energy and enthusiasm to the U.S. race and is making Donald Trump an absolute ragdoll. The two aren’t even on the same planet most days.

Rather than look like the doddering senior running against another doddering senior, Biden looks like the graceful statesman.

For Trudeau, that call from inside the house is still relatively quiet. A few dozen MPs is far from a full-blown caucus revolt. It would be unwise for him to let it get there.

Speaking of two different planets, Western Canada has held a general distaste for Trudeau as a person and as a prime minister for years now.

In vote-rich Ontario and Quebec, the turn has been much more recent.

But supporters on the centre-left are seeing the Conservative momentum, with the energy generated around a new, popular leader, and they don’t see Trudeau as the leader to stop that momentum, whenever that next election comes.

And it could come sooner than later, with the NDP starting to make noise about pulling the plug on the minority parliament.

If Trudeau stepped aside now, the party could appoint an interim leader to sit in the prime minister’s chair until the next vote.

In the meantime, the Liberals could hold a leadership contest and have some time to rally behind the new leader — whoever that may be.

Joe Biden’s transformation from a candidate dooming his party to defeat to a graceful leader knowing when to transfer the baton happened quickly.

Justin Trudeau could do himself, his party and his legacy a big favour by following Biden’s lead.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.