Chrystia Freeland says Toronto MPs met in her backyard to discuss byelection loss

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters Thursday that some members of the Liberal Party’s Toronto caucus met in her backyard recently to discuss the party’s surprise byelection loss in the riding of Toronto-St.Paul’s.

Freeland said the meeting was chaired by Scarborough-Guildwood MP John McKay, who heads the 416 Liberal caucus. McKay declined to comment on the meeting.

“I offered my backyard because it’s in a central location,” said Freeland, who represents the Toronto riding of University-Rosedale.

“I think it was a valuable opportunity to talk about the results of the byelection … The people of Toronto-St.Paul’s did send us a message. And it is absolutely incumbent on us to hear that message.”

When asked why she should stay on as finance minister while the Liberals still slump in the polls, Freeland said “that’s a choice for the prime minister, of course.”

Freeland made the comments in Milton, Ont., after announcing the federal government would be investing millions of dollars to support athletes that represent Canada.

The backyard meeting reveal came a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he’s been “engaging” with MPs from the greater Toronto area and beyond since the byelection.

One Liberal MP has told CBC News some caucus members fear Trudeau’s continued leadership could result in a major loss for the party in the next federal election, expected in 2025.

But cabinet ministers, including Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, have come to the prime minister’s defence by publicly stating they back his leadership.

Freeland echoed their comments and said Trudeau “has my full support.”

“I know he has the full support of cabinet. And I know he has the full support of the vast, vast majority of Liberal MPs,” she also said.