PM says Liberals will always defend charter, as Ford prepares to override it

SASKATOON — Justin Trudeau says the federal Liberal party will always stand up for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The prime minister is making the assertion on the same day as Ontario Premier Doug Ford is reintroducing legislation to reduce the size of Toronto’s city council — using the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause to override the charter.

And he’s making it as the Liberal caucus begins a two-day retreat aimed at plotting strategy for next week’s resumption of Parliament — and for the election just over a year from now.

Trudeau kicked off the retreat with a speech to his caucus recounting his government’s accomplishments since it came to power in 2015.

And he’s levelling criticism at Andrew Scheer’s Conservative party, saying it has no plan to grow the economy or tackle climate change.

Trudeau is to meet later today with one the fiercest opponents to his climate change plan, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.