Trudeau presides over first caucus meeting, recalls father’s glory days

OTTAWA – Justin Trudeau is presiding over his first caucus meeting as Liberal leader by harking back to the party’s signature accomplishment when his father was at the helm.

The newly minted Liberal leader notes that today marks the 31st anniversary of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a seminal addition to the Constitution when it was patriated in 1982 by Pierre Trudeau.

Justin Trudeau says the charter defines what it means to be a Liberal.

He says the Conservatives refuse to celebrate the charter because they’re mistrustful of protecting the rights and freedoms of Canadians.

And he says New Democrats are “conflicted” about the charter for fear of upsetting sovereigntist sympathizers in their midst, who have always objected that the Constitution was brought home without the consent of Quebec’s separatist government of the day.

Trudeau was elected leader by a landslide on Sunday.