Liberal supporters split on if Trudeau should step down: Poll

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OTTAWA — While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau navigates what many consider to be the swansong of his political career, only a little over half of Liberal Party supporters want him to remain until the next federal election.

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Those numbers, released Monday by Angus Reid, suggest the Liberal Party is split over the future of the contentious leader, whose approval ratings have been in the cellar for much of the past year.

Of those who consider themselves supporters of the federal Liberals, 52% think Trudeau should stay on, compared to 32% who want him to step aside.

Seventeen per cent said they weren’t sure.

In all, 55% of total respondents to the poll think Trudeau needs to step aside, compared to 30% who want him to stick around, and 15% who were unsure.

Trudeau survived what turned out to be a rather milquetoast coup attempt last week, after a group of at least 20 mostly anonymous MPs signing a letter demanding he step aside.

As well, the minority Liberals are facing what promises to be a future of confidence votes in the House, bolstered by threats from the Bloc Quebecois that they’ll join Conservative efforts to bring the government down if the government doesn’t back a bill increasing benefits for seniors.

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House business continues to be at a standstill due to a now month-old privilege motion by the Tories, triggered after House Speaker Greg Fergus ruled the government had violated the rules by refusing to comply with a production order demanding the release of thousands of documents connected to the green slush fund scandal.

The poll was conducted between Oct. 24 and 26, polling 1,627 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum.

While margins of error don’t apply to online polls, a probability sample of equivalent size would yield a margin of error of ±2%, 19 times out of 20. 

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Of those voters definitely considering supporting the Liberals, 39% say Trudeau should stay on, compared to 35% who want him to step down.

Support for those demanding Trudeau step aside went up among those who won’t rule out voting Liberal, increasing to 53% compared to just 29% who want him to stick around.

For those who absolutely won’t vote Liberal, voters who think Trudeau should step aside increases to 69%, while those who want him to tough it out until the next election sits at 23%.

Angus Reid’s polling puts Trudeau in a precarious position, putting his approval rating at just 29% — ranking third behind Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre at 36% and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh at 37%.

As for voting intention, the Tories continue their commanding lead garnering 43% of the decided vote, compared to the Liberals at 21% and NDP at 20%.

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