![]() The road ahead remains bumpy with more ashcans than roses. As he begins a second term leading a minority government, the achievements are hard won and probably fewer than expected. Trudeau has pushed his personal priorities – climate, gender and reconciliation – while grappling with the permanent files that preoccupy all Canadian prime ministers – security, unity and Uncle Sam. All of this was set against an international backdrop of populism, protectionism, rearmament and the breakdown of the rules-based liberal order. Hope and conviction met the realities of managing a cabinet chosen more for its look than experience, a caucus that wanted attention from its leader and not just his acolytes, and a public that is diverse and increasingly skeptical of politicians and governments. For the temper of the times, however, Trudeau should have kept at hand a copy of Machiavelli’s The Prince.įour-plus years and a second election later, Trudeau has had a sobering, often frustrating education in the art of governing. For his band of Gen Xers, especially those destined for cabinet office, “to be young was very heaven”. For the former drama teacher, “bliss was it in that dawn to be alive”. The son of Pierre Trudeau – Canada’s third-longest serving prime minister – had quickly climbed the greasy pole of politics. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared “ Canada is back” and promised a return to “ sunny ways” upon winning a majority in the October 2015 federal election. It would also be a rude shock for Canadians’ self-image of themselves internationally. Losing would be traumatic for his government and their sense of Canada’s place in the world. In what was supposed to be a celebration of “Canada is back”, there is doubt that Canada will win a seat on the UN Security Council in June 2020. Canadian farmers and business are suffering - collateral damage in the Sino-U.S. Managing relations with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping is difficult. The global operating system is increasingly malign, with both the rules-based international order and freer trade breaking down. Does he have the patience and temperament for compromise and the art of the possible? Canada’s premiers will also need attention if he is to achieve progress on his domestic agenda. Parliament, including his experiment in Senate reform, is going to require more of his time. He leads a minority government with new strains on national unity. Kennedy what was most likely to blow governments off-course: “Events, dear boy, events.”Īs Trudeau begins a second term as prime minister, the going is tougher. Trudeau is learning firsthand what British prime minister Harold MacMillan warned U.S. But are these attributes and causes out of sync with our turbulent times? He possesses an empathy and emotional intelligence most people found lacking in his famous father, Pierre Trudeau. A gifted retail politician, Trudeau prefers campaigning and contact with voters to the hurly-burly of the House of Commons. Trudeau’s Continuing Foreign Policy VisionĪn internationalist and a progressive, Justin Trudeau consistently boosts diversity, social justice, environmentalism and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
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