Trudeau says Liberals 'strong and united' despite caucus dissent

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Liberal party is 'strong and united,' despite efforts from within his caucus to oust him as leader.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Liberal party is "strong and united," despite efforts from within his caucus to oust him as leader.

While he wouldn’t stop to take questions from reporters, Trudeau made the comment as caucus members made their way out of an exceptionally long and high-stakes meeting Wednesday, during which many of them were set to confront the prime minister and ask him to step down.

The highly anticipated meeting took place behind closed doors. It came after a group of MPs had been organizing behind the scenes for the last two weeks to ask the prime minister to reconsider his political future at the helm of the Liberal party.

It’s unclear exactly how many MPs are part of the effort to oust him, though sources have told CTV News it’s at least 20, largely from Atlantic Canada and southwestern Ontario.

It had been reported that some form of letter or written pledge had been circulating among Liberal MPs in the lead-up to today's meeting. But according to sources with knowledge of what was ultimately brought to Trudeau, that did not include any list of names or signatures.

Many MPs and cabinet ministers have also insisted they support the prime minister, and put up a united front following Wednesday’s meeting. But sources also tell CTV News it was "tense" in the room, and the prime minister was sometimes "touchy," insisting he wants to stay on as leader.

Sources also say no cabinet ministers got up to the mic, but about 50 backbenchers did.