Liberal caucus staying quiet after major byelection defeat that rattled party

Liberal campaign co-chair Terry Duguid insisted Thursday that his caucus is united behind Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, even as the majority of elected Liberals remain silent on the prime minister's political future.

Liberal campaign co-chair Terry Duguid insisted Thursday that his caucus is united behind Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, even as the majority of elected Liberals remain silent on the prime minister's political future.

The Canadian Press contacted dozens of Liberal MPs following the unexpected loss of a Toronto stronghold in a byelection earlier this week.

Most of them didn't respond at all. Those who agreed to be quoted on the record, including Duguid, are all standing by Trudeau.

Several Liberals responded only on the condition they not be identified because they weren't comfortable criticizing their leader in public at this point. Those MPs either suggested it's time for Trudeau to go or, at the very least, that the caucus needs to meet soon to discuss how to move forward.

British Columbia MP Ken Hardie, who said he wants Trudeau to stay, said the lessons his party should learn from losing Toronto-St. Paul's to the Conservatives requires a "collaborative discussion."

The byelection loss happened just days after Parliamentarians left the House of Commons for the summer break and returned to their home ridings for the summer.

While some MPs have met with others in their own regions since Monday, the rest remain scattered across the country. The full caucus isn't scheduled to gather again until a retreat in British Columbia before the House of Commons returns in September.