'Trudeau really boxed them into a corner': Former MP Tony Clement on the Liberal leadership race

Morning North17:32Two veteran northern Ontario politicos discuss this wild time in Canadian politics

it's a wild time in Canadian politics, with a new prime minister, a federal election, and possibly a provincial election in the next few months. Two retired political warriors from the north, Glenn Thibeault and Tony Clemen, joined us with their thoughts on what might happen next.

The Liberal leadership race won't give enough time to rejuvenate a party that is floundering in the polls, according to Tony Clement, who served as a Conservative cabinet minister, both federally and provincially.

"Trudeau really boxed them into a corner," Clement said on a panel interview on CBC's Morning North on Monday.

"If he had made his decision 18 months ago, then I think you would have a really interesting discussion within the party while it is governing, on the future of the party and the country. But there's just no time for that now."

Glenn Thibeault, who was an NDP MP for Sudbury before withing to provincial politics, and becoming a Liberal cabinet minister under Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, said in the panel discussion that despite the current fortunes of the federal Liberals, election campaigns matter, and he feels a lot could change before Canadians head to the polls.

In the wide-ranging interview, both retired politicians discussed their predictions for federal and provincial elections, along with the impact of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threats.