Journalists who follow Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for any length of time know he is almost never early for anything.
So it was refreshing when Trudeau bounded into a multi-purpose room at Elwick Community School in the Maples just after noon Friday, seven minutes ahead of schedule.
During a break week for the House of Commons, Trudeau had agreed to do a podcast interview with me and my partner, Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair. Honestly, right up until the moment he entered the room, I had a lurking suspicion that some other event or priority would delay things.
But there he was, showing up early in rolled-up sleeves, offering warm handshakes and effusive salutations. He sat down promptly in front of his microphone and appeared like he was actually looking forward to the interview.
Given all that’s happening in the country right now, there’s a very good chance he was, in fact, looking forward to a longer conversation about the pressing challenges facing the country, and whether his Liberal government will have any role in finding solutions.
In case you haven’t heard, the Trudeau Liberals are in dire straits. They are 20 points behind Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives in most polls. Personally, Trudeau has reached historically low levels of approval.
However, even against that backdrop, the Trudeau who showed up in Winnipeg seemed to show no sign he’s lost the will or the energy to find a way — any way — to once again snatch electoral victory from what appears to be almost certain defeat.
Facing a relentless wave upon wave of daily attacks from the Conservatives, Trudeau said his path forward will be found in continuing to position his government as the “progressive” option. It’s certainly the theme Trudeau has leaned into during the pan-Canadian break-week barnstorming.
“I guess the one message, the big message overarching everything is, we need to make this country fairer for every generation.”–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
“I guess the one message, the big message overarching everything is, we need to make this country fairer for every generation,” Trudeau said.
“We are seeing right now, too many young families, unable to even imagine buying a home. They’re squeezed with the price of groceries, they’re worried about instability, not just in their communities, but around the world. Everything’s changing so fast, that there’s a lot of anxiety out there.
“And I believe, and it’s part of my political philosophy, but also my conviction as someone who was an educator, worked in various communities for a long time, that it’s the role of society and therefore government, to be there to be investing in the right places, supporting the people who need it, and building a better future.”
Trudeau said he believes his progressive message contrasts well with the one offered by Poilievre’s Conservatives. And, for the most part, he is absolutely right; while Trudeau tries to capture some of the “sunny ways” magic he summoned in 2015, Poilievre has committed himself to painting Canada as a broken and dysfunctional nation.
Contrasting message aside, there is little evidence Canadians are still listening to Trudeau. This week was an excellent case in point.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau isn’t conceding the results of the next federal election to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre just yet.
As he travelled the country, the prime minister talked about school meal programs and housing initiatives, while allowing a bit of time to remind Canadians that a Liberal government would not allow anyone to limit access to abortion. Opinion polls show Canadians overwhelmingly support all of these policies and positions.
However, those same polls show Canadians are tuning Trudeau out, even when he says the right things.
Considering his estrangement from the electorate, Trudeau was asked if he has defined the conditions under which he would step aside.
Former Manitoba premier Gary Doer once famously said political leaders should always have a clear sense of when it’s time to go, so they wouldn’t have to suffer the indignity of losing an election.
Trudeau was quick to disagree.
The prime minister said the country is “grumpy” right now and for good reason. Interest rates and inflation are still high, global insecurity is running rampant and climate change continues to present an existential threat. Trudeau said political history has shown governing parties almost always take the brunt of the citizenry’s angst when times are tough.
However, Trudeau said this is not the time to think about exit strategies.
“I spend no time thinking about how I’m going to leave this job, or what conditions I might leave the job,” Trudeau said. “I think as soon as someone, whether you’re two years in or 20 years in, starts thinking about their exit strategy, yeah, it’s time to go. Right now, I am focused on doing the work. I am focused on the challenges Canadians are facing and how to actually solve for them. I’m not thinking about oh, you know, am I gonna get a corner office in a law firm once I’ve done this? Are people gonna like me or not?”
Trudeau agreed leaders must be willing to step down if they are a drag on their party. Even so, he disputed the idea this is the time to consider that option.
“I’m not thinking about ‘what if’ one day. I’m focused on today and tomorrow.”
dan.lett@winnipegfreepress.com
Dan Lett
Columnist
Born and raised in and around Toronto, Dan Lett came to Winnipeg in 1986, less than a year out of journalism school with a lifelong dream to be a newspaper reporter.
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