'Get back on the horse': Liberal ministers stand by their man after byelection loss

A string of Liberal cabinet ministers declared Wednesday they are all ears to what disgruntled voters are saying in the aftermath of a byelection defeat in what was considered a safe Toronto riding.

A string of Liberal cabinet ministers declared Wednesday they are all ears to what disgruntled voters are saying in the aftermath of a byelection defeat in what was considered a safe Toronto riding.

With the summer barbecue circuit beckoning, members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet fanned out across the country to let Canadians know about work they've been doing on their files.

But every minister that stepped up to a microphone was bombarded with questions about their government's fading political prospects after losing the byelection to the Conservatives.

Voters sent the Liberals a message they can't ignore, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said at a press conference Wednesday in Montreal, adding the party needs to hear people out and "get back on the horse."

"We need to listen to the people that voted in the way they voted, screw our heads on better and then move on."

During a visit to B.C., it appeared Trudeau took Miller's metaphor literally when he went horseback riding at a community event to mark the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Tsilhqot'in decision. For the second day in a row since the byelection defeat, Trudeau avoided taking media questions.

Miller said Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is "weaponizing" frustrations Canadians have with the Liberals — concerns that have noting to do with how they feel about the official Opposition.