'These are not easy times': Trudeau says he hears 'concerns and frustrations' after shock by-election loss
(UPDATE: June 25 at 11:22 am): Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he's listening to the "concerns and frustrations" of voters after the Liberal Party's shock defeat in the Toronto-St. Paul's by-election last night.
Speaking in Vancouver to make an announcement about a conservation initiative off the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest, Trudeau congratulated Don Stewart, the Conservative victor, and praised his party's candidate, Leslie Church.
"This was obviously not the result we wanted," he said. "But I want to be clear that I hear people's concerns and frustrations."
He added: "These are not easy times and it's clear that I and my entire Liberal team have much more work to do to deliver tangible, real progress that Canadians across the country can see and feel.
"We'll never stop working and fighting to make sure that people have what they need to get through these tough times. My focus is on your success. And that's where it's going to stay."
Earlier today, Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre said "Trudeau must go" and urged the prime minister to call a "carbon tax election."
(Original story: June 25 at 6:40 am): The Tories have won a shock victory in a Liberal stronghold in Toronto.
Conservative Don Stewart beat the Grits’ Leslie Church by fewer than 600 votes in the Toronto-St. Paul’s by-election held on Monday.
The riding has been Liberal since it was created in 2015. Before that, the St. Paul’s riding had been Liberal since 1993.
Carolyn Bennett, who resigned in January, won the seat for the Liberals in 2021 by more than 9,000 votes.
Congratulations to Common Sense Conservative candidate, @donstewartTO, on a shocking upset in Toronto-St. Paul’s, where people voted to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.
Here is the verdict: Trudeau can’t go on like this. He must call a carbon tax… pic.twitter.com/72n6c2h9jC
Reacting to the victory – which he branded a “shocking upset” – Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “must call a carbon tax election now.”
“Trudeau can’t go on like this,” he wrote on X.
The Tories have failed to win a Toronto riding since 2011.
This morning I issued the following statement on the results of the Toronto-St. Paul's byelection. Once again, thank you to all of our volunteers and supporters, and everyone reaching out today. pic.twitter.com/qHrDXU9lO2
Polls in recent months have shown the party has about a 20-point national lead over the Liberals.
Trudeau has not yet commented on the loss, though he is certain to be asked about it during a media appearance in the Greater Vancouver Area later this morning.
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