Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says Denis Coderre knows what is expected of him. (CBC)Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is suggesting that his former Quebec lieutenant may face consequences for criticizing the party.

Denis Coderre resigned on Monday, saying he no longer had the "moral authority" to act as Ignatieff's right-hand man in Quebec after being overruled in choosing the Liberal candidate for the Montreal riding of Outremont.

The MP took a jab at Ignatieff — accusing him of relying too closely on advisers in Toronto "who know nothing about the social and political realities of Quebec."

Ignatieff initially scoffed at the remarks.

Coderre was absent from the House of Commons on Thursday as debate got underway on the non-confidence motion tabled by the Liberals.

He was in Montreal for the taping of the popular Radio-Canada talk show Tout le monde en parle, which will air Sunday night.

Coderre will also skip a party meeting this weekend in Quebec City.

Meeting with reporters in the Commons foyer, Ignatieff seemed nonchalant about the MP's absence.

"You have to have a bit of respect for Tout le monde en parle. I've appeared there twice myself; it's not so bad. It is a Quebec institution."

Asked whether Coderre would face sanctions for missing the meeting, Ignatieff said, "Mr. Coderre knows what the Liberal party is. Mr. Coderre knows what is expected of him."

Pressed further, Ignatieff warned, "For every action there are consequences. I'm very clear about that. Mr. Coderre is very clear about that."

Coderre reiterates confidence in Ignatieff

Coderre declined to comment other than to say people will hear what he has to say Sunday night, he said.

But, in a Facebook posting, Coderre said he still has confidence in Ignatieff.

"There have never been problems in Quebec or with Quebec," he wrote in a posting on the social networking site. "I still have confidence in Michael Ignatieff and am happy that he has said Quebec concerns will be settled between him and Quebec [party] authorities."

On Wednesday, Ignatieff, whose riding is in Ontario, took the unusual step of sitting in on a meeting of the Quebec caucus of MPs and senators in order to make sure the dust was settling following Coderre's resignation.

Marlene Jennings, MP for the Quebec riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce – Lachine, said this weekend's meeting will be a chance for the party to heal.

"We need to work through this, and we need to keep our eye on the ball," Jennings said.

"And, that ball is that we have a constitution. We need to respect it — we need to make sure... our grassroots have a chance to discuss policy and that is going to happen on Sunday."

Coderre was heavily criticized by party members for trying to block the nomination of former cabinet minister Martin Cauchon, a popular Liberal and personal rival who is staging a political comeback after once representing Outremont for 11 years.

Ignatieff initially supported Coderre's call to nominate business executive Nathalie Le Prohon instead, as part of the Liberal strategy to increase the number of women in its Quebec caucus.

But late last week, Ignatieff did an about-face, announcing the party would clear the way for Cauchon's nomination.