backbench

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator (animated version, too) – Friday October 25, 2024

Trudeau’s Liberals Face the Inevitable Reckoning as the Party’s Inner Tensions Spill Out

As the Trudeau government wanes, what we are witnessing within the Liberal Party is a familiar phenomenon: the surfacing of personal grievances, power struggles, and a desperate jostling for relevance among those who have long operated as little more than “bums in seats” or “trained seals.” These MPs, tasked primarily with voting as directed by the leadership and handling the mundane affairs of constituents, now see the grim reality of their political future unfolding. With Justin Trudeau’s popularity slipping and no longer able to carry the caucus on the strength of his coattails, many backbenchers—formerly comfortable in their irrelevance—are finding themselves at the mercy of a crumbling party machine.

News: Trudeau touts united party after MPs push for change in caucus meeting

Trudeau, who once vowed to change the culture of factionalism within the Liberal Party, now faces dissent not just from the opposition but from within his own caucus. The frustrations expressed by MPs like Sean Casey and Alexandra Mendes—who bluntly declared that the public is simply “tired of his face”—are only a sliver of the discontent festering inside a party that increasingly appears more focused on its own survival than on governing effectively. The recent ultimatum from 24 MPs for Trudeau to step down only underscores this point: with elections approaching, they’re ready to jump ship unless the captain changes course.

What exacerbates the situation is the centralization of power around the PMO, a trend that has alienated many MPs. Pierre Trudeau’s famous dismissal of MPs as “nobodies” the moment they leave Parliament Hill has never felt more true—not only for backbenchers but even for junior ministers who lack real influence within the cabinet. In a government increasingly run by Katie Telford and a tight circle of senior ministers like Chrystia Freeland, Melanie Joly, and Dominic LeBlanc, those on the periphery have become politically invisible. For the MPs left out of the club, the future is bleak—riding Trudeau’s leadership into the ground means facing the electorate with no credibility or public profile to stand on.

Analysis: Trudeau and the Liberals are burning time on themselves that they can’t afford to waste

This disillusionment mirrors the last days of Brian Mulroney’s tenure, when MPs realized the futility of loyalty to a leader sinking under the weight of his own decisions. Mulroney’s mantra—“Ya gotta dance with the one that brung ya”—no longer resonates with today’s Liberals, as the cracks within Trudeau’s team widen. In its place, we hear the refrain “F*ck Trudeau,” a slogan borrowed from the Freedom Convoy movement, reflecting the growing public exhaustion and the frustration felt within caucus ranks.

In a system where MPs have been reduced to little more than tools of the executive—pushed to vote on command, promote party-approved causes, and remain silent unless called upon—it’s no wonder that many are now openly or privately questioning their future under Trudeau’s leadership. If the Liberal Party’s survival depends on focusing its energy on preventing Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives from taking power, the infighting and bitterness now on display could doom them to the same fate they faced in 2011: a party lost in its own squabbles, out of touch with Canadians, and destined for defeat. As Immigration Minister Marc Miller warned, every minute spent on “this garbage” is a minute not spent fighting the real political battles ahead. (AI)

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Posted to SUBSTACK.  It’s at the early experimental stage (at the time of it’s posting,) and presented in the form of notes as I figure out how to integrate it into my daily routine. Find out what’s swirling in my head as I come up with my ideas.  It’s free and will continue to be, as will this carefully curated WordPress website which I’ve maintained obediently since 2012… until the traditional structure that has sustained me a livelihood collapses on top of me as it has for so many of my peers. Please take a look, and if you want to continue following/subscribe to my work, please subscribe, and thank you! – Graeme MacKay

Being a backbench MP during what seems to be the twilight of a government is hardly an enjoyable position.

It has to really suck.

These individuals chose public service, becoming dedicated foot soldiers for their party. They attended countless rubber chicken dinners, canvassed door to door, and passionately promoted their party and its leader to secure their seats. They arrived in Parliament eager to make a difference and be effective voices for their constituents. Perhaps they envisioned a chance to shine, to strut a little, maybe catch the attention of the mandarins, and to be appointed as committee chairs, Parliamentary Secretaries, or even to join the cabinet.

However, the more likely reality is that they find themselves in the role of trained seals, addressing constituent issues, showing up in Parliament, and performing one key task: voting with the party line while keeping their opinions to themselves.

As Justin Trudeau’s leadership wavers and power becomes increasingly concentrated within the Prime Minister’s Office, many Liberal MPs — now stuck on the backbenches — are expressing their frustrations and reevaluating their political futures. Echoing the discontent seen during the waning days of Mulroney and Chretien, these MPs are confronted with a stark truth: without the support of Trudeau’s influence, they risk going down with a sinking ship. With public fatigue regarding Trudeau and a rise in internal dissent, the party’s focus on its internal struggles is weakening its capacity to address the genuine threat posed by the Conservatives, evoking fears of a potential electoral collapse reminiscent of 2011.

In the end, the anticipated revolt from the backbenches against Justin Trudeau appears to have fizzled out with little fanfare. An ultimatum from certain MPs for him to resign by October 28 was swiftly dismissed by Trudeau, who asserted his intention to remain in power. While some may argue that this entire situation was merely a media fabrication, a “nothing burger” born from partisan fantasies, they are only fooling themselves. The reality is that a handful of disgruntled government MPs remain unhappy with the current trajectory, and their discontent signals a significant issue that cannot be overlooked. This simmering dissatisfaction could very well spell trouble for the party as it navigates its future amidst growing uncertainty.

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Letters to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday October 29, 2024

Cartoon disappointing, disgusting
Re: Oct. 25 editorial cartoon

I generally enjoy Graeme MacKay’s political cartoons, however, I found this one disappointing and, frankly, disgusting. I have seen the slogan depicted on the back benchers’ shirts far too often and really wish that the supposed adults who insist on displaying it would grow some brains and decency.

Bill Millar, Stoney Creek

Wrong call on choice of imagery
Many of us are completely exhausted by Justin Trudeau’s presence and he needs to go on the fastest rocket out, however, that was a disgusting attempt at humour by Graeme MacKay. Highlighting this perceived profanity comment is just so wrong and offensive!

The vulgarity doesn’t need to be displayed to make a point of what Liberal backbenchers might think. Paper bags on the heads, sitting with backs turned would have been just as effective.

Gordon Franklin, Clinton