CPC MPs: Time To Push Byrne Out.

When a party loses an election it should have won, given a multi-year lead in the polls, there have to be consequences for not winning: in this instance, it's already conventional wisdom that the leader is safe, having increased our seat count and popular vote. But MPs must demand accountability for what went wrong; in this case, the buck must stop with Byrne. The campaign's tone has to be of concern as it likely turned off enough voters to deny us the win. Some of those commercials were appalling and definitely cost us votes. Someone has to pay the consequences for those bad decisions, and obviously, MPs and Senators are not prepared to lay that blame at the leader's feet. 

Any push to remove Byrne will also be a test for the leader: he will get to gauge the mood in the room and can either give way and respect the view of at least a plurality or majority of MPs or hold fast. If he blocks any move to replace Byrne, his position will begin to be undermined in caucus. The leader must remember that our loss is partially due to how he handled himself during the campaign. He lost his own seat, one he held for twenty years, and that should not only be a point of reflection but also a flashing red sign that he must change his ways going forward. As we say in French: faut le faire, losing one's own riding.

Caucus must be all about genuine accountability and internal consequences for losing. Otherwise, we'll just be papering over the cracks and putting the plane on autopilot until we lose again.