Liberal MP says he thinks Trudeau should face a leadership review

Liberal MP Ken McDonald says he thinks it's time for his party to consider a leadership review of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Newfoundland MP stopped short of saying Trudeau should step down. He did tell Radio-Canada that he would like to see some sort of review organized within the party — one which would allow party members to express themselves freely and permit potential rivals for the party leadership to come forward.

«As a party, let's clear the air and if people are still intent on having the leader we have now, fine. But at least give people the opportunity to have their say in what they think the direction the party is going,» he said.

McDonald was first elected in 2015, when the Liberals swept to power. He said he largely attributes that win to Trudeau.

«In 2015, it was him that won the election. He won the government,» he said. «He convinced Canadians that this was the time to switch parties and put in a different government.»

But the MP for Avalon said he wonders now if the Liberal leader is doing his party more harm than good.

«I think Atlantic Canada is much the same as the rest of the country. There's almost a hatred out there right now for Prime Minister Trudeau,» he said.

This isn't the first time McDonald has whipped up controversy in the Liberal ranks. Last fall, he voted in favour of a Conservative motion to abolish carbon pricing — one of the Trudeau government's flagship policies.

Around that time, he said, he began receiving multiple phone calls from Liberals — including people in the Prime Minister's Office — urging him to fall into line.

«Various ministers reached out to me. The whip had a meeting with me about this,» he said. «The pressure was intense, but I was determined to do it because I knew