"Canadian businesses just have to be prepared for some challenges over the next four years, no matter who wins," said Keller, a vice-president with government relations firm StrategyCorp.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said Canada remains a global leader in resettlement, but says that pro-refugee sentiment is fragile in an economic or housing crisis and it would be "really negative" to see it destroyed.

New Democrats will not cave to demands from the Bloc Québécois and Conservative leaders to help them bring down the Liberal government, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said on Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has rejected the idea of the Liberal caucus holding a secret ballot vote on Justin Trudeau's leadership, saying it's "just not how Liberals govern themselves."

Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet set the deadline last month, putting the Liberals on notice that to avoid an election "before Christmas" they must adopt a pair of private member's bills.

Two dozen members of caucus signed a letter that gave Trudeau until Monday to respond to their demand for his resignation as party leader but the PM insists he's staying on.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a major drop in the number of new permanent residents Canada will accept in 2025.

Liberal MPs were tight-lipped about what happened behind the closed doors but those who did speak with reporters as they left the meeting also said the party is united.

Rumours have circulated for weeks about an undisclosed number of Liberal MPs who have signed on to the effort to oust the prime minister in the hopes of improving the party's chances in the next election.

While members of the cabinet have defended Trudeau staying on as leader, a number of Liberal MPs have signed onto a letter that aims to convince him to step aside before the next election.