麻豆影视

Skip to main content

'If it were me, I'd be leaving': Longtime Liberal New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna on whether Trudeau should go

Former New Brunswick Premier, Frank McKenna, speaks during the University of St. Francis Xavier's annual national dinner and fundraiser in Toronto on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Christopher Katsarov / The Canadian Press) Former New Brunswick Premier, Frank McKenna, speaks during the University of St. Francis Xavier's annual national dinner and fundraiser in Toronto on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Christopher Katsarov / The Canadian Press)
Share

Former New Brunswick Liberal premier Frank McKenna says if he were in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 shoes, at this point in the government鈥檚 mandate, he would step down.

鈥淚f it were me, I would,鈥 McKenna told CTV鈥檚 Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, in an interview airing Sunday.

鈥淚 would be leaving, simply because, 10 years, I think, is a natural life expectancy of every commodity we have, from a watch to a phone, even to a political term,鈥 he added. 鈥淎nd we're watching now incumbency become a major factor in elections in B.C. and New Brunswick, the United Kingdom and France and Germany.鈥

McKenna was premier of New Brunswick from 1987 to 1997 and served as Canada鈥檚 ambassador to the United States from 2005 to 2006.

More than two dozen Liberal MPs told the prime minister they wanted him to step aside during a lengthy caucus meeting on Wednesday. Sources inside the room told 麻豆影视 the prime minister concluded the meeting by telling MPs he would reflect on their concerns.

Just 18 hours later, Trudeau told reporters he would lead the party into the next election.

鈥淚 really respect what MPs are going through,鈥 McKenna said. 鈥淚t's really turmoil between self preservation and loyalty.鈥

McKenna went on to describe what he sees as the push and pull between the two sentiments.

鈥淭hey're watching the cognitive dissonance that they're experiencing,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t just tells us that these are just good people trying to find their way through a very difficult situation.鈥

McKenna also told Kapelos he thinks Trudeau鈥檚 legacy would be intact if he were to leave now.

鈥淚f he were to leave, like (former prime minister Brian) Mulroney, I think there would be a lot of praise for the record that he accumulated while he was in office, and I think history would be very kind to him,鈥 he said.

鈥淚f things continue the way they are, it's going to be a bit messy,鈥 he added.

McKenna appeared alongside former U.S. ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman on CTV鈥檚 Question Period to discuss the impact of the presidential election on U.S.-Canada relations. 

IN DEPTH

Opinion

opinion

opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Israel launches strikes on military targets in Iran, escalating Mideast wars

Israel pounded Iran with a series of airstrikes early Saturday, saying it was targeting military targets in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired upon Israel earlier this month. Explosions could be heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, though there was no immediate information on damage or casualties.

Canada Post driver Rick Harper recounts how he and others helped save a woman from a Tesla that caught fire after crashing into a guardrail on Lake Shore Boulevard.

Local Spotlight

A new resident at a Manitoba animal rescue has waddled her way into people's hearts.

Hundreds of people ran to the music of German composer and pianist Beethoven Wednesday night in a unique race in Halifax.

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Stay Connected