Justin Trudeau takes virtual cross-country tour to Atlantic provinces

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues his virtual tour of Canada today, with electronic visits to the Atlantic provinces.

He conducted a virtual tour of British Columbia yesterday, meeting with Premier John Horgan and consulting with business and environmental leaders about how to ensure a green economic recovery from the devastating effects of the pandemic.

Trudeau is planning to unveil what he promises will be a bold recovery plan in a throne speech re-opening Parliament on September 23th.

The speech will be put to a confidence vote, which could result in the defeat of Trudeau's minority Liberal government.

With the possibility of a fall election in mind, today's Atlantic tour appears to have a more political flavour.

Trudeau is to be joined by local Liberal MPs as he visits businesses that have used various federal emergency aid programs to stay afloat during the health crisis.

He normally uses the summer to travel the country and engage in outreach with community leaders and voters outside the Ottawa bubble.

But apart from the occasional forays to Toronto, Montreal and communities near Ottawa, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a crimp in his usual cross-country travels.