Liberal cabinet meeting in Vancouver, looks to regroup ahead of fall sitting

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet are in Vancouver today for the start of a three-day retreat as they prepare for a fall sitting of Parliament, facing yet another Conservative leader.

The Liberal government is wrapping up the most normal summer since COVID-19 began, but one that brought new problems and raised questions about the government’s management skills.

Liberal strategist Tim Barber says the cabinet has to find a way to demonstrate its competence.

He says the government would do well to focus on a response to labour shortages, given that job vacancies are driving many of the biggest challenges such as inflation and emergency room closures.