Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to meet with his cabinet ministers on Friday for the first time since his unexpected loss in a by-election in a Toronto-area riding, multiple sources told CBC News.
Officials cautioned that the meeting is expected to be short, virtual and focused on clearing vacant positions – appointments to the governor’s council require cabinet approval.
Over the past few weeks, several Liberal MPs have publicly and privately called on Trudeau to hold substantive meetings to discuss the party’s future direction following the party’s loss in a by-election in the Toronto-St. Paul constituency, which the party has held for more than 30 years.
Several MPs, including Newfoundland and Labrador MP Ken MacDonald and Calgary-Skyview MP George Chahal, specifically called for a meeting of all Liberal MPs this summer.
But in early July, Liberal caucus chair Brenda Shanahan told MPs the request was “not possible” because of “scheduling issues” and said individual and group meetings would continue ahead of the caucus’ planned meeting in September.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said she had spoken with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, including a lengthy meeting on Friday, but declined to say whether she had received a commitment from him to stay on as Canada’s finance minister. Freeland’s question came amid reports of tensions with the Prime Minister’s Office.
Trudeau said in early July he would “converse” with MPs individually to “discuss how we can continue to work to stay connected to Canadians and continue to deliver results for Canadians.”
Rumors are swirling about the future of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland after The Globe and Mail reported last week that officials in Downing Street were scrutinizing her ability to communicate the government’s economic agenda as it seeks to reverse sagging approval ratings.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly defended Freeland after the report was released, telling reporters last week that he had “every confidence in her abilities and in the work that we will do together.”
Freeland acknowledged Tuesday that she had an “extended conversation” with Trudeau on Friday and spent time with him at events and meetings on Saturday and Monday.
“What I want to say to everyone here is that from my own perspective, I have the confidence that I need to be able to do my job effectively,” Freeland said.