Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland announces millions in support for Canadian athletes

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was in Milton on Thursday to promote the federal government’s investments to support athletes across Canada. But, the focus shifted to looming questions about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership.

Freeland signaled the byelection loss in Toronto last week shows there are calls for change but added that Trudeau has full support from cabinet.

READ MORE: Trudeau won’t commit to meeting with national caucus following party’s byelection loss in Toronto

During her announcement, Freeland said with the 2024 budget the federal government is investing $35 million over five years and $7 million a year going forward for the Athlete Assistance Program.

When asked about the shocking Toronto byelection upset, Freeland said, “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.”

Freeland says a group of Toronto-area MPs met in her backyard Wednesday to talk about what the results in Toronto-St. Paul’s mean and what Canadians are telling the party.

“Canadians people in Toronto sent us a message. They said work harder, deliver for us, things are hard for us, we expect you to work hard and deliver results and make things easier and that’s what we’re totally committed to doing,” Freeland said.

READ MORE: Federal Conservatives win in Toronto-St. Paul’s byelection

A new leger poll is suggesting two-thirds of Canadians think Trudeau will stay on to lead his Liberal Party into the next election. The online poll of 1,500 people was conducted several days after that byelection result. One out of every three people surveyed told Leger they think Trudeau will step down before the end of this year.

Peter Graefe from McMaster University says we’re at a point where Trudeau needs to decide whether he can come up with a way to show that he can win the next election.

“I mean, it’s pretty rare in Canada for a sitting prime minister or a premier to be forced out of office. They hold so many powers to ensure the loyalty of their caucus and cabinet. But at the same time, you know, when someone has been there for a long time and looks unlikely to win the next election, there is an ability for members of caucus to really make the life of the prime minister or the premier untenable. Right. That they have to step down,” Graefe said.

READ MORE: Conservatives push out Liberals in Toronto byelection

If Trudeau were to step down, then the Liberal Party would call a leadership convention and we could even expect Freeland to be a candidate.

The Liberals have another byelection test coming up sometime before Sept. 17 in the central Montreal riding that was previously held by the party.

Graefe says if Trudeau stays on and the results of that byelection don’t turn out in the party’s favour, then questions about replacing Trudeau could return.