Toronto Liberal candidate for Spadina-Fort York asked to 'pause his campaign'
A Toronto Liberal candidate has been asked to “pause his campaign” amid reports of a sexual assault charge from 2019 that was later withdrawn.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau was asked about the allegation at a news conference on Friday and confirmed the party had asked Kevin Vuong, the candidate for Spadina-Fort York, to take a break from campaigning.
“We are looking into it very carefully,” Trudeau told reporters.
"We are a party that always takes seriously any allegations or reports of sexual harassment or intimidation or assault. That has been clear from the very beginning.”
The Toronto Star reported Friday that Vuong had been charged with sexual assault in 2019 and that the charge was later withdrawn. Vuong told the Star that the allegations were false, that he fought against the allegations and that he finds it “deeply troubling” they surfaced in the last week of the federal election campaign.
CTV News Toronto has not independently confirmed the charge.
In a statement released Friday morning, the Conservative Party claimed the Liberal Party “hid” the charge, adding that the candidate should be fired.
“This pattern of cover-ups by Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party must stop. Once again Canadians are left wondering how they can trust the Liberals,” the party said.
“Justin Trudeau must do the right thing and immediately fire this candidate and confirm that if elected, this candidate will not sit in the Liberal Caucus."
Trudeau would not confirm what actions the party would take should Vuong be elected in Spadina-Fort York.
CTV News Toronto has reached out to Vuong for comment.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also released a statement saying that Trudeau’s decision not to fire Vuong or address other allegations against Liberal candidates contradicts his claims that he is a feminist prime minister.
“Earlier in this campaign, survivors of sexual assault watched for five days while Justin Trudeau defended Raj Saini,” Singh said.
“Again, Mr. Trudeau is refusing to fire a candidate who has been accused of sexual assault. From sexual misconduct in the military to accusations against himself and his candidates, Justin Trudeau has repeatedly shown women that he doesn’t believe them.”
Saini, former MP for Kitchener Centre, stepped down earlier this month amid allegations that he harassed a female staff member. Saini firmly denies the claims.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
NEW Where to watch the state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney
A state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney will be held in Montreal on March 23. CTV News will have live special coverage of his funeral service.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
NEW High thoughts: The habits of Canadian cannabis users are revealed in a new StatCan report
Statistics Canada has conducted a series of surveys to measure the impacts of legalized cannabis since the Cannabis Act took effect in 2018. The latest one, the 2023 National Cannabis Survey, sheds light on users' preferences and habits last year.
Freddie Mercury's home is on the market for first time since 1980 minus his 'exquisite clutter'
Freddie Mercury's sanctuary in London, where he lived the last decade of his life, is on sale for the first time in nearly half a century -- minus his "exquisite clutter."
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.