Kathryn McKenna, the former Minister of Environment in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, said it is time for the party to find a new leader, after the Liberals suffered a stunning defeat this week in a former stronghold in Toronto.

McKenna continued in a statement to Global News on Friday: “The Liberal Party is not about one person; it’s about the values it represents and about improving the lives of Canadians. The Prime Minister has a legacy he can be proud of, but it’s time for new ideas, new energy, and a new leader. There’s a lot at stake in this election, especially regarding the economy and the climate.”

McKenna was a senior minister who served in Trudeau's government from 2015 to 2021, initially responsible for the environment portfolio and later for the infrastructure portfolio.

While Trudeau's current ministers stand by him publicly, McKenna is one of the first former cabinet members to call for his replacement, as CBC News first reported.

Her comments come at a time when Trudeau is facing increasing pressure to rethink his political future following the stunning upset in the Toronto Centre by-election.

The Conservatives won the by-election held on Monday night, taking the seat from the Liberals for the first time in three decades, raising a wave of questions about whether Trudeau should remain as leader.