Third Liberal MP asks Trudeau government for a plan to lift restrictions

Liberal Anthony Housefather has become the third MP of his Party to ask Trudeau to lift the restrictions.

"But what I do agree with is that every level of government needs to effectively communicate with the population, what its plans are with respect to all restrictions, and needs to explain why they are there, and at what point they will be removed. And that is an important thing that all levels of government need to do," Housefather said on February 10.

Although notably weaker than the two previous MPs, Housefather's statement is significant given Housefather is a close ally of Justin Trudeau. His statement goes contrary to Trudeau's current positioning on restrictions.

Liberal MP Joel Lightbound also spoke out on Tuesday, calling for his party to give a "roadmap" to get Canada out of COVID restrictions.

Lightbound said that it was time to review vaccine mandates and vaccine passports, as well as travel bans, adding also that it was time for the trucker convoy to move out from the city of Ottawa's downtown core, and perhaps protest elsewhere.

Speaking of the protestors, Lightbound said that he condemned all displays of hate that have occurred during the protest, but has since seen a diverse array of people, including blacks and Sikhs. Lightbound said that he would avoid using "easy and absurd labels" to generalize the group.

"It's time we stopped dividing people, pitting people against each other. The tone and policies of my government have changed since [the election], now the approach stigmatizes and divides people."

Yves Robillard joined fellow Liberal MP Joel Lightbound in criticizing the Trudeau government's "politicized" and "divisive" handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robillard, who has served three terms as a Liberal MP, was quick to come out in support of Lightbound. "He said exactly what a lot of us think," Robillard told the Hill Times, adding that he "agree[s] with everything that Lightbound said."