Liberal MP Ken McDonald changed his stance regarding comments he made to a Radio Canada reporter this week when he said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should undergo a leadership review.

In a statement sent Thursday morning, McDonald retracted his comments and insisted that he did not call for a reconsideration of the leadership.

McDonald, the MP for Avalon in Newfoundland, said, "My recent public comments were not intended as a personal call for a reconsideration of the leadership, and I am not calling for that now."

Despite his statement today, McDonald was clear in his comments to Radio Canada reporter Lawrence Martin in a recent interview that he wants to see a leadership review and that he is unsure whether Trudeau is the right leader for the party heading into the upcoming federal election.

McDonald said in the interview published Wednesday, "The government now will become an old government, people believe the time has come for change. I tell everyone: every leader, every party has a set date, and our best date is now. So we either have to change things in a way that makes people think we are new again, or that we are able to move forward better. But that's not something I control."

Martin asked, "It seems you suggest there should be some kind of change, like a change in leadership or something like that?"

McDonald said: "A leadership review, right?"

Martin asked, "Do you want a leadership review?"

McDonald continued: "A leadership review," "Usually, in most political circumstances and especially in the federal government, if you go from a majority government to a minority government, there is supposed to be a review or reconsideration of the leadership, and that hasn’t happened. We moved to a minority in 2019... then went to another minority in 2021.

Martin asked, "Do you think there should at least be a leadership review in the Liberal Party?"

He answered, "Yes," let's, as a party, clear the air, and if people are still determined to support the current leader, that's fine, but at least give people the chance to express their opinion on what they think about the direction the party is headed."

Martin asked, "And if there is such a review, will you continue to support Justin Trudeau or will you look for someone else?"

McDonald said, "I want to see the list of candidates who come forward, listen to them individually, and then I will make my decision."

"So it’s not clear to you now whether Justin Trudeau is the right leader for the Liberal Party?"

"No, it’s not clear."

The rest of the Atlantic MPs remain silent

CBC/Radio-Canada asked 15 Liberal MPs across Atlantic Canada to respond to McDonald’s comments on Wednesday, and no one replied.

While McDonald did not go as far as to call for Trudeau to step down in the interview, he was clear in saying he is unsure whether he will support Trudeau in the upcoming election.

On Thursday, McDonald took a very different tone.

The statement read: "As I have said, I believe the Prime Minister is a smart politician, a great activist, and I know he still puts Canadians’ interests at heart."

"I will continue to support my colleagues in the party and the Prime Minister as I have since 2015."