Wednesday December 18, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC
Political analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
“When we pull together nothing can stop us,” said Trudeau last night to the assembled room of Liberal Party of Canada loyalists at a holiday season dinner event in Toronto.
He linked the internal party stresses of recent weeks to how a family argues at a Christmas family dinner, but quipping as to how most families get through it.
Trudeau heaped praise on the constituency workers who — at offices across the country — keep the party afloat while serving in real ways on a daily basis for Canadians. Indeed, constituency offices are in many cases the only point of contact that many Canadians have with the federal government system or their Member of Parliament.
Trudeau took a jab at the Conservatives, saying the party has changed its name a few times over the past 150 years but have also changed their values “more times than I can count”. The poke was to contrast what he considers the consistency if not the fabric of dealing with crises in Canada as the Liberals were the government in power during the Depression and two world wars and the COVID pandemic.
In his Tuesday evening speech, the prime minister mentioned that he had been in BC in recent days to visit in the Cloverdale-Langley City riding during the by-election there (where the Liberals did not hold onto the seat) and where he was proud to note the region for now having the famous BC-born Terry Fox on the new $5 banknote in Canada.
He did not mention having been in BC to speak at the provincial state memorial for John Horgan this past Sunday. Best not to mention a former NDP Premier in a festive Liberal room, even one that Trudeau said he was proud to call a friend.
In the wake of Monday’s political chaos of losing Chrystia Freeland as his Finance Minister and within hours choosing Dominic LeBlanc to fill that role, Trudeau has cancelled his usual year-end TV media interviews and is reportedly planning to spend time with family in BC over the Christmas holidays.
Trudeau’s 53rd birthday is coming up on December 25. Trudeau has been known to the country since the day he was born, the son of then-Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Margaret Trudeau.
The country awaits either the infamous resolve of Justin Trudeau to find a new way forward as the Liberal leader and prime minister, or a decision to step aside.
All three opposition parties have strongly suggested that he resign. No surprise hearing that from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre this week but it was more definitive than usual from Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet and a new full stance from NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh who said it’s time for Trudeau to go after how the Fall Economic Statement was entirely overshadowed by the unexpected cabinet resignation of then-Finance Minister Freeland.
However, Trudeau may himself have the instinct that he is the only current Liberal who can beat Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the upcoming election.
The stakes are high. He may not feel that a fresh coast of paint on the Liberals is the best move as geopolitical challenges are building. Trudeau is now the most senior leader in of the G-7 countries and has dealt with US President-elect Donald Trump before (during the re-elected incoming US President’s first term in 2016-2020).
Being prime minister is not just a job for Trudeau, he was born to this and he may feel his final round has not yet been tackled.
The next federal election is scheduled for October 20, 2025 but is expected by most now to come sooner, in the spring.
===== RELATED:
- Dominic LeBlanc addresses media after being sworn in as Finance Minister (December 16, 2024)
- Finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigns from federal cabinet (December 16, 2024)
- Canada’s premiers see action: Trudeau & Trump share national interests over dinner (December 1, 2024)
- Trump threatens 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico (November 25, 2024)
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