SAGUENAY, Que. -- Liberal MPs began catching up on vacation stories and other tales from outside the political bubble Wednesday evening as they began arriving for a summer retreat to get ready for a year of tough choices as the government figures out how to deliver on its long list of promises.
"It's good for all of us to get together, talk about what issues are coming up in our constituencies, so we can filter it in to the fall agenda," Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr said as he greeted his Liberal caucus colleagues in the lobby of a hotel in Saguenay, Que., about 210 kilometres north of Quebec City.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to arrive here Thursday morning, when the meetings begin in earnest, where he will address the national caucus after they have gathered in smaller regional groups.
The Liberals are being encouraged to spend their free time in the area, with a community event promising a chance for local residents to mingle with Trudeau and the MPs scheduled for Thursday evening.
The details of what will take precedence on the fall legislative agenda -- beyond vague assertions the middle class will remain a priority -- have yet to be shared, but Liberal MPs headed into two days of closed-door meetings said they hope for substantial discussions on everything from electoral reform to a review of anti-terror legislation.
Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, the national caucus chair, rhymed off his list of expected topics: the economy, the environment, national security, health care -- "the big issues that Canadians are expecting us to continue to move forward on."
The summer caucus meeting comes on the heels of a cabinet retreat in Sudbury, Ont., where the stagnant economy provided the context for a message that the second year in power will require some patience and acceptance of the fact that the government cannot please everyone all of the time.
Status of Women Minister Patricia Hajdu said she thinks the wider caucus will understand the message.
"I think our job is to do the best that we can to advocate for what we think are the best interests of our constituents, or what the evidence says, and then understand that we won't win every argument," Hajdu said Wednesday evening before joining the women's Liberal caucus for a meeting.
Conservative finance critic Lisa Raitt, meanwhile, argued it was time for the Liberals to recognize that their efforts to boost the middle class -- through a tax cut and the new Canada Child Benefit -- and infrastructure spending have not yet delivered their promised kick-start to the economy.
"Enough with the consultations, special meetings and navel-gazing," she said.
Liberal MPs are returning from their summer breaks with local concerns, arising from the numerous town halls cabinet ministers asked them to conduct in their ridings, the canvassing the Liberal party has asked them to keep up and their own ties to the regions.
The question of what to do about Bombardier, for example, will undoubtedly come up during a breakout gathering of the Quebec caucus.
The new Supreme Court of Canada appointments process and whether it will mean the Liberal government breaks with the convention of appointing a judge from the Atlantic region to replace retiring Nova Scotia Justice Thomas Cromwell, will likely be a hot topic for the 32 East Coast MPs.
The talk of staying the course also comes amidst some recent changes, including a big one which moved Small Business Minister Bardish Chagger into the job formerly held by Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
The Liberals had a tough time getting their legislative agenda on track this spring -- helping to create a bitterly partisan atmosphere that played a role in the so-called "elbowgate" controversy in May. The choice of Chagger, a rookie MP, is seen as a way to bring down the temperature.
In an interview Tuesday, Chagger said she was looking forward to building upon LeBlanc's work, but also stressed that she looked forward to working collaboratively with other parties in the House.
"I sincerely do believe that we can work together," she said.
