Ontario MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes quits Liberal caucus

Celina Caesar-Chavannes
Credit: Christian Diotte, House of Commons Photo Services

ONTARIO MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes has quit the Liberal caucus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday. The Whitby MP, who had said she would not seek re-election, will sit as an independent.

Trudeau said: “I have just been notified by my office that Celina Caesar-Chavannes has decided to sit as an independent. I want to thank her for her service to the Liberal Party and to her constituents, and wish her the best in her continued service to her constituents,” he said.

In a tweet on March 7, Caesar-Chavannes quoted Trudeau: “I believe real leadership is about listening, learning & compassion…central to my leadership is fostering an environment where my Ministers, caucus & staff feel comfortable coming to me when they have concerns” and then added: “I did come to you recently. Twice. Remember your reactions?”

She told the Globe and Mail that when she told Trudeau about her plan not to seek re-election, “he was yelling that I didn’t appreciate him, that he’d given me so much.”

She said Trudeau later apologized.