THUNDER BAY — Liberal MP Marcus Powlowksi says he was watching from the back benches Monday when Chrystia Freeland quit federal cabinet.
And, he said Tuesday in a Zoom interview from Ottawa, he didn’t see it coming.
“I don’t think anybody did, and I don’t think you can sugar coat this to make it look good,” said the member for Thunder Bay-Rainy River. “I mean, it wasn’t good.”
Powlowski described Freeland as “very bright” and “very dedicated,” and “an excellent finance minister.”
“And for her to leave under these circumstances is really unfortunate,” he added.
It was made even more unfortunate, he said, by news on the same day that another cabinet member is departing: Sean Fraser from the housing portfolio.
Powlowski compared Freeland’s split with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet to the break-up of a relationship.
It’s tough, he said, “but at the end of the day sometimes it’s for the better.”
The government’s back bench has “a lot of really good people who are sitting there that can certainly step up and contribute” as cabinet members, he remarked.
It’s like when a hockey team loses a star player, he said – there are others who could come in to fill the gap.
“I think we have a lot of people who could do the job,” he said. “But we took a hit yesterday. I mean, there’s no doubt about it.”
Powlowski said Trudeau “has certainly heard” criticisms and “will have the Christmas period” for reflection.
The decision of whether to step down as party leader and prime minister is Trudeau’s to make, Powlowski said.
Telling the prime minister when he should step down “would be undemocratic,” said the MP.
Powlowski said there is “definitely a lot of animosity directed towards the prime minister” and “I think the prime minister is not blind to that.”
But Canadian electors will ultimately have to decide whether they really want to put Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in charge, he said.
“Do you really want to wake up with Pierre Poilievre as your prime minister? And that kind of big shift to the right? I don’t know if that’s who we are as a country.”
Conservative MP Eric Melillo, who represents Kenora, did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, the member for Thunder Bay-Superior North, responded to reporters’ questions Monday on Parliament Hill.
“These are difficult and deeply personal decisions,” she said of Freeland’s resignation. “Obviously she’s made her decision, and I respect that.”
