The Liberals won the Toronto riding of Spadina–Fort York by more than 20,000 votes in the 2019 election.

As a result, the party led by Justin Trudeau had high hopes that its new candidate, Kevin Vuong, would hold the seat after the incumbent, former city councillor Adam Vaughan, chose not to seek reelection.

But just days before voters go to the polls, the Liberals have asked Vuong to "pause" his campaign.

It's because the member of the Naval Reserves was charged with sexual assault in 2019. The Crown dropped the charge, according to the Toronto Star, but the case is reportedly being reviewed by the Canadian Armed Forces.

Vuong has told the Toronto Star that the allegation is false.

In response to this news, Trudeau told reporters that his party "always takes seriously any allegations or reports of sexual harassment or intimidation or sexual assault".

"That has been clear from the very beginning," Trudeau said.

He added that the party only learned about these "serious allegations" as a result of the Toronto Star story.

Vuong's name will remain on the ballot for the September 20 election. If he is elected, the Liberals say that he will not sit in their caucus.