“After much consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided to step away from my role as National Campaign Director for the Liberal Party of Canada effective September 30, 2024,” Broadhurst wrote. “Given the stakes involved, the Prime Minister, the Liberal Party of Canada and all its candidates deserve someone who can bring more energy and devotion to the job than I can at this stage of my life.”
Broadhurst has been instrumental in shaping the party’s success over the years, most notably contributing to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s historic 2015 majority victory. He assumed his role as campaign director ahead of the 2019 federal election, navigating the party through a series of political challenges. Reflecting on his years of service, Broadhurst acknowledged the toll the demanding job had taken on both his personal and family life.
“I have increasingly thought about the physical, mental, and emotional effort that has been required of me over the past 20 years, and specifically in the past five national campaigns,” he added. “My family has selflessly sacrificed for years to allow me to pursue this all-consuming work. I have come to the conclusion that I cannot ask them to sacrifice another year.”
Broadhurst’s departure leaves the Liberals without one of their key strategists at a critical time, as polling shows the party trailing the Conservatives by a significant margin. Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party currently holds a lead of up to 17 points over Trudeau’s Liberals, while the NDP under Jagmeet Singh also lags far behind the Conservatives by as much as 25 points.
His resignation also comes on the heels of the NDP’s withdrawal from the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been keeping Trudeau’s minority government in power. Under this deal, the NDP had been supporting the Liberal government on critical votes in exchange for progressive policy actions, but tensions have escalated amid shifting political dynamics.
While Broadhurst did not rule out future involvement with the party or government, his decision marks a significant change in the Liberal Party’s leadership at a moment of political uncertainty.
CTV News reached out to the Liberal Party and the Prime Minister’s Office for comment but has yet to receive a response.
This story is still developing, and updates are expected as more details emerge.
Source: CTV News