Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland shakes hands with Men of the North Founder Christopher Merasty in La Ronge. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

federal election

Freeland makes campaign stop in La Ronge to drum up support for Belanger

Apr 17, 2025 | 7:07 PM

Chrystia Freeland, a high-ranking Liberal MP from Ontario, was in La Ronge on Thursday to help energize Buckley Belanger’s campaign in the Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River riding.

“It is really important for the Liberal Party, it’s really important for me personally, for us to elect some Liberal MPs in Saskatchewan,” she said in an interview with larongeNOW.

“I have to say having spent the day here with Buckley, I can see he is a man who has spent his life serving his community. Everyone knows him, everyone trusts him, and he has been saying something that I really like, which is if he is elected as Member of Parliament, it’s not just going to be he’s going to have an office in Ottawa, every single person in this community will have an office in Ottawa. I really like that and that is what this community needs.”

Freeland has been an MP since 2015 and prior to the election she was serving as the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Internal Trade. She was the Deputy-Prime Minister of Canada from 2019 to 2024 until she was asked by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign last December.

It was her resignation which led to Trudeau announcing his own resignation only weeks later. That launched a leadership race within the Liberal Party in which she ran against and lost to current Prime Minister Mark Carney.

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While Freeland believes in fighting for every riding across Canada, she does understand the tight race in Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River. Political experts have said it is likely the only riding in Saskatchewan that could turn red on April 28.

“Buckley is a really strong leader, he is a really strong candidate, he is running a really great campaign, and I have come here to try and give him a little bit of an extra boost and energize the campaign,” she said.

During her time in La Ronge, Freeland met with representatives from Children North and Men of the North. She had a short meeting with both organizations, as well as toured their facilities.

Children North Executive Director Daina Lapworth told Freeland about the financial situation her organization will soon encounter. As of July 1, Children North will be losing core operating funding due to cutbacks with Jordan’s Principal.

“I think moving forward, if anybody can help, it might be her or some connections that she might have. The more people who know what’s really happening, the better,” Lapworth said.

During his short time with Freeland, Men of the North Founder Christoper Merasty told her about the need for a men’s national awareness strategy.

“I really hope there is some meaningful and tangible actions that be taken from the meeting we had today and the asks that we asked for,” he remarked.

“One of the areas we like to advocate for is more supports and resources for men and young people right across Canada.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com