Winnipeg's Ben Carr becomes 1st Manitoba Liberal MP to call for Trudeau to step down as party leader

Winnipeg South Centre MP Ben Carr is calling for a change of leadership in the federal Liberal party, becoming the first Manitoba Liberal member of Parliament to call for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down.

"I do not arrive at this decision easily, nor do I make it happily," Carr said in a letter to his constituents on Friday afternoon. 

"I felt somehow as though I would be betraying my party," he said. "As time has passed, however, and the further I reflected on the conversations I have had with those I represent, I concluded that it is in fact the opposite." 

Carr said he will seek re-election with the federal Liberals in the next election. No date has been set for that election at this point, but it has to happen on or before Oct. 20 of this year.

In his letter, Carr thanked Trudeau "for his dedication to Canada, and all that he has done to move us forward," but also said he has heard from his constituents that they are struggling with the party's leadership.

"If I do not advocate for what I believe is in the best interests of those I was elected to serve in Winnipeg South Centre, then I am not doing the job to the best of my ability," he said. 

CBC News reached out to Carr on Friday, but he declined to comment beyond what he said in the letter.

Winnipeg North Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux said each individual in Parliament will do what's in their best interests, but said he has "absolute confidence" in Trudeau.

"I truly believe that the prime minister has Canada in his heart and will do what he feels is in the best interests of Canada," he told CBC News after Carr's letter became public.

Winnipeg South Liberal MP Terry Duguid, who recently joined cabinet, said he supports Trudeau "fully."

There's much to prepare for in the coming year, he said in a statement sent to CBC, including "upcoming challenges internationally."

"I know the prime minister, with his experience, skills and proven track record, is the right person to lead Canada through this difficult period," said Duguid.

Reached by CBC on Saturday, Saint Boniface-Saint Vital Liberal MP Dan Vandal said he'd support Trudeau "whichever way he wants to go." 

"If anyone's earned the right to make their own decision on the future, it's the prime minister," Vandal said.

"I think we give him some time to make that decision. I'm sure very soon he's going to come out and articulate what that is. I'm confident it'll be the right one."

He added while he respects Carr's perspective, he's not convinced that party members calling on Trudeau to step down have someone else in mind who actually wants to do the job.

"Our prime minister has been in tough spots before, and as a party we've been in tough spots before with him as leader, and we've always come through," said Vandal.

"I think he deserves that option if he wants it. If he wants that option, I'm prepared to back him 100 per cent. We'll see what his decision is."

Carr's calls come in the wake of growing unrest within the Liberal Party. To date, Liberal MPs in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta have called for Justin Trudeau to resign as leader — with most coming forward after former finance minister Chrystia Freeland's surprise departure from cabinet last month.

Most recently, the Atlantic Liberal caucus called for Trudeau to step down after meeting over the holidays.

Liberal MPs will gather next week for a special national caucus meeting, for the first time since Trudeau told them he would take the holidays to reflect on his future.

Liberal national caucus chair Brenda Shanahan called the meeting for Wednesday, Jan. 8, according to an email sent to Liberal MPs and shared with CBC News on Friday. It is scheduled to run as long as six hours.

"This is a tumultuous time," Vandal told CBC on Saturday.

"We have to be united to make sure that [Conservative Leader] Mr. [Pierre] Poilievre does not become prime minister, and I think everyone's working in the best interests of their constituents. I know that I am."