Kelowna-Lake Country MP joins chorus for prime minister's ouster

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is getting it from all sides.

Of course, the opposition Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Quebecois have been calling for an immediate confidence vote in the House of Commons in hopes of toppling Trudeau's Liberals and forcing a federal election -- which the Conservatives and NDP hope to win.

Kelowna-Lake Country Conservative MP Tracy Gray is the latest to add her voice to that chorus.

But, Trudeau is also getting flak from his own party.

His deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland quit both those posts on Dec. 16 saying she no longer had confidence in Trudeau.

Today, Liberal MPs in Atlantic Canada called on the prime minister to step down for the good of the party.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, a long-time ally of Trudeau who allowed the Liberals to hang on with a minority government, said he will now bring a non-confidence motion against Trudeau and the Liberals as soon as parliament reconvenes on Jan. 27.

The Jan. 27 date is also a bone of contention.

It's almost a month away, a 'prorouging' or delay that allows the Liberals to hang on.

The opposition parties want parliament recalled immediately so a confidence vote can be taken and if Trudeau's Liberals lose that vote a general election can be called immediately as well.

"The Liberals are desperately trying to cling to power and only having an election called or an immediate confidence can provide constitutional certainty," said Gray.

"One of the things I hear the most about from local residents as I'm out in our community is how they want a federal 'axe the tax' election now."

That 'axe the tax' refers to the carbon tax, the issue that will likely decide the next election with the Liberals possibly losing for their support of the controversial and unpopular levy and the new party that comes to power scrapping the tax.

"All three recognized opposition parties, representing the majority of Members of Parliament, have now stated they do not have confidence in the government," said Gray.

"Canada faces a serious trade threat from the U.S., there are record numbers of homeless encampments and record numbers of Canadians going to food banks. The drug crisis continues, there are record amounts of federal deficit and debt, crime has skyrocketed, housing costs have doubled, the cost of groceries in Canada is now 37% higher than in the U.S., and millions of Canadians are unemployed. This cannot continue, which is why Conservatives are calling for an 'axe the tax' election now."

Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola Conservative MP Dan Albas said much the same thing a week ago.

"(Federal Conservative leader) Piere Poilievre has asked that parliament be recalled immediately to test confidence in Trudeau and his Liberals," said Albas.

"And then we can dissolve this parliament and have an election. This parliament is done. Canadians deserve a prime minister who puts Canadians first instead of himself (Trudeau) and his party first."