Deputy prime minister says ‘vast, vast majority’ of Liberal caucus supports Trudeau

Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland delivers remarks during Canada Day celebrations at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa, on Monday, July 1, 2024. Freeland says the "vast, vast majority" of Liberal MPs continue to support their leader. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

HAMILTON — Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the “vast, vast majority” of Liberal MPs continue to support their leader.

Her comments come as questions continue to swirl about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership — and whether he has the full support of a caucus he has not met with since last week’s shocking byelection upset in Toronto last week.

Freeland says Toronto-area MPs met in her backyard on Wednesday evening to talk about what the election results mean.

She says voters in Toronto-St. Paul’s sent the Liberals a strong message when they delivered the Conservatives a surprise victory last Monday in a riding the Liberals have held for more than 30 years.

Freeland told reporters at an event in Milton, Ont., today that she believes the message they sent is that “things are hard,” and “life is challenging” right now.

She says voters expect Liberals to deliver results and make things easier.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2024.

The Canadian Press