The current 169-member Liberal caucus is largely made up of seasoned MPs who have recently experienced political upheaval in ousting Justin Trudeau, and for Mark Carney to succeed as prime minister, he must ensure his MPs have direct and consistent access to him and are treated fairly in cabinet promotions, say Liberal MPs.
In interviews with The Hill Times, Liberal MPs, who did not want to be identified, pointed out that in 2015, Trudeau inherited an almost brand new caucus, with most members newly elected and grateful to be in the House. Almost no one raised any concerns about not getting promotions to cabinet, and Trudeau effectively shaped their understanding of parliamentary conduct. Having spent more than a decade in Parliament, members from the class of 2015 and earlier now see themselves as potential cabinet ministers—a dynamic not uncommon in long-governing parties, which makes it a challenge to manage the caucus effectively.
