Justin Trudeau makes surprise visit to Sudbury, Ont., for provincial caucus meeting

Trudeau in Sudbury for summer meeting Nickel Belt MP Marc Serre says many important topics were discussed when the Liberal caucus met in Sudbury with the prime minister.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to the Ontario Liberal caucus meeting in Sudbury, Ont., on Wednesday afternoon, snubbing the media.

The event was not listed on the leader's public itinerary until after 3 p.m. and did not include any media availability.

The federal Conservative party is criticizing the move calling it a "lavish getaway" expensed to the Canadian taxpayers.

The caucus meeting is being held at the Holiday Inn on Regent Street.

"Justin Trudeau took a surprise trip up to Sudbury to appease his Liberal MPs from Ontario at their swanky retreat before summer ends," the Conservative Party said in a news release Wednesday.

"Of course he didn’t want you to know about it so he can avoid any and all (scrutiny) for his disastrous policies such as imposing his punishing carbon tax which has driven up the cost of gas, home heating, and groceries."

Trudeau is scheduled to participate in National Acadian Day celebrations in southwest Nova Scotia on Thursday and will be speaking at a concert at 8 p.m.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is scheduled to attend the caucus meeting on Thursday.

A request CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca sent to Freeland's office Wednesday night asking to schedule an interview was denied.

"Unfortunately, I don’t think an interview will be possible. Our schedule is completely booked today," a spokesperson for Freeland said in an email.