Liberal MP Sean Casey has emerged from the shadows to call today on his leader, Federal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to step down from the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. Casey represents Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island, in the House of Commons.

This request from Casey comes as several of his fellow liberal MPs have been distributing a letter to all Liberal MPs since last week to rally votes calling for Prime Minister Trudeau to resign from party leadership. According to sources from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the letter had gathered signatures from about 20 liberal MPs by the end of last week.

“The message I’m receiving (from voters) is very clear, and increasingly strong, that it’s time for (Trudeau) to go, and I agree with that,” Casey said today in an interview with CBC (the English division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), adding that the letter circulating among his colleagues now has “no doubt” the support of “more than 20 MPs.”

Casey has represented the Charlottetown riding under the Liberal banner continuously since 2011, winning its seat in four consecutive general elections. He justifies his call for Trudeau to step down by citing the declining popularity of his leader among voters in his riding, Charlottetown.

“I was elected to represent my constituents in Charlottetown (...). There are many, many people I represent who want the Prime Minister to (leave office),” said Casey.

Casey noted a “certain level of discomfort” among the population that is being expressed to him “regularly,” and these feelings have “become stronger in recent months.”

No matter what happens, Casey intends to run in the next election under the Liberal banner. He stated that he is committed to preventing Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre from becoming Prime Minister of Canada, regardless of whether “Justin Trudeau stays or goes” as the leader of the Liberal Party.

Casey did not wish to endorse any specific candidate to replace Trudeau, simply stating that “there are a number of very qualified individuals who can inspire the country, including several names that we hear quite often.”

Canada is set for a federal general election by October 2025 at the latest.

Polls have shown for over a year that the Conservatives, led by Poilievre, are ahead of the Liberals, led by Trudeau, in voting intentions.