BACK ON MESSAGE — The Liberals picked immigration as Thursday's post-raucous caucus channel-changer. Most ministers had one job: don't get in the way.
And the government dropped a beast of a policy reversal. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU and Immigration Minister MARC MILLER announced a significant reduction in new permanent resident targets: 395,000 in 2025, down from 500,000; 380,000 in 2026; and 365,000 in 2027. "Our immigration system has always been responsible, and it's always been flexible," Trudeau told reporters, admitting the government "didn't get the balance quite right" as it faced labor market challenges in recent years. → Counterpoint: Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE called the immigration overhaul a "massive admission of failure." — Listening mode: Miller acknowledged MPs heard from constituents about the impact of immigration levels on housing, healthcare and social services. "While we are still and continue to be an open country, that volume [of immigration] that we have put forward is something that is of concern," he said. Thursday's announcement "shows we're listening to Canadians," he added. — Speaking of listening: Trudeau's dissenters hoped he would take time to reflect on the uncomfortable feedback from caucus colleagues who counseled him to resign. Some hoped he would make a decision by Oct. 28. He didn't require that much time. The PM's overnight deliberations didn't deter him from staying on as leader. Global's MACKENZIE GRAY kicked off the media avail Q&A with direct questions about Trudeau's future. — Gray: How can you say your party's united after numerous MPs told you to your face yesterday that you should quit? — Trudeau: Listen, the Liberal Party has always had robust discussions about the best ways to tackle the issues that are facing Canadians. We are united in our desire to prevent PIERRE POILIEVRE from cutting programs and services that Canadians are facing. We're going to continue to have great discussions about how I can best lead the Liberal Party forward with measures that will counter the growing misinformation and disinformation that Mr. Poilievre is putting forward around Canadians. We're focused on winning the next election and we've got a great team around us to do it." — Gray: Are you planning on staying on as prime minister past Oct. 28? — Trudeau: Yes. — Potted plants: Twenty MPs literally had Trudeau's back, applauding in the background as the prime minister insisted he'd lead his party into the next election. The loyal soldiers included PAUL CHIANG, TALEEB NOORMOHAMED, JAMES MALONEY, KAMAL KHERA, RANDEEP SARAI, MAJID JOWHARI, SHAFQAT ALI, WILSON MIAO, SUKH DHALIWAL, SALMA ZAHID, FRANCESCO SORBARA, MANINDER SIDHU, LEAH TAYLOR ROY, JAIME BATTISTE, RUBY SAHOTA, FAYÇAL EL-KHOURY, JEAN YIP, JENNA SUDDS, VALERIE BRADFORD and SONIA SIDHU. — Dueling interpretations: Trudeau celebrated internal caucus debate. "Unlike the Conservative Party of Canada, we have robust conversations within our ranks about the best way to move forward." → Second opinion: Recall Liberal MP WAYNE LONG 's reaction to Wednesday's cathartic closed-door session. “In my nine years of caucus it was the most meaningful, direct and blunt caucus that I’ve seen,” Long told Playbook. In other words: It was the exception, not the rule.
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