Liberal Caucus members will be gathered in Nanaimo today for a three-day retreat as they prepare to resume parliament fall, and a VIU political expert says this move has left him surprised.
According to Elections Canada, in 2021 Vancouver Island became an NDP stronghold, with only one Liberal MP being elected on the Sunshine Coast.
According to Dr. Michael MacKenzie, who is part of the political leadership at Vancouver Island University, while having a caucus retreat in the west could try to connect Justin Trudeau’s government with pertinent issues, it might be futile, and voters may already see him as disconnected.
“Trudeau’s government is aware we need to act on health care, mental health and addictions, housing but I don’t think Canadians believe his government is doing enough at this time,” MacKenzie says. “However, any government has to appeal to voters with both policy recommendations and an emotional level.
“I think he has done well in the past inspiring voters, but I don’t see that at this point in time.”
MacKenzie says a change in leadership could be at hand, which could help solidify or improve the federal liberals’ position in the polls and there is evidence to support that could be exactly what the party needs and potentially what the meeting could be a prelude to.
“The obvious comparison is what is happening in the United States,” he says. “The Democrats really came very quickly around to backing Kamala Harris, so people are looking to that and saying it could work for the liberals.
“It’s possible some new leader could inspire people to come back to the liberal banner.”
Despite the work ahead of the government, he still maintains the choice to hold a retreat in the City of Nanaimo as interesting and suspicious considering there has never been a liberal presence in the area.
“The Nanaimo riding is unique in Canada, we’ve had Green representatives, NDP, and the Conservatives are competitive, but the Liberals aren’t,” MacKenzie says. “I am not sure if they’re trying to make in-roads here, or if they’re trying to go somewhere they don’t normally go so they can knuckle down?”
Currently, the only liberal MP in the area is Patrick Weiler, MP for West Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast.
The retreat is scheduled to be held at the Vancouver Island Convention Centre from Sept. 9 to 11, in downtown Nanaimo.
