OTTAWA — Rifts in the Canadian Alliance caucus turned into chasms Tuesday, with eight MPs openly revolting against the leadership of Stockwell Day.
The breakaway MPs called for Day’s resignation, a de-facto boycott of caucus since they’ve been warned by Day’s office that criticizing him would result in suspensions.
Chuck Strahl, Val Meredith, Jay Hill, Jim Pankiw, Grant McNally and Jim Gouk joined forces with Art Hanger and Gary Lunn, who were suspended from caucus last month for urging Day to step down.
Some members, notably Meredith and Hill, have been with the party since its inception in the 1980s and said they were taking action to save their party.
“The Alliance is not yet succeeding. In fact, it is sliding backward,” Strahl told a news conference.
“We believe that the party must come first and that the problems Mr. Day has had … are serious enough that he should put the party first.
“It is with deep regret that today we call upon Mr. Day to resign as leader of the Canadian Alliance.”
Day countered with a mirror-image news conference, surrounding himself with his parliamentary team and saying he’ll remain until next April’s scheduled leadership review.
“I am the leader of this party. I am going to lead. Tomorrow I’ll be in question period as I was today, holding this government to account …”
The renegade MPs said they’re committed Alliance members backed by their riding associations and have no intention of leaving the party despite avoiding caucus meetings.
