Plan B Forum

Justin Trudeau: The North Star

He was raised in jet-set privilege but overcame tragedy to become Canada's prime minister. Is he the free world's best hope?



Let's begin by synchronizing our watches. We are in the Eastern time zone.

The legislative session is over, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is about to give his wrap-up press conference. The reporters trudge into the gallery, grumbling, as reporters like to do, about traffic and editors. Someone gives the "10 seconds" signal, and Trudeau strides to the podium. He gives a nod and starts ticking off his accomplishments. The first is self-praise for cutting taxes on the middle class and raising them on the one percent. "We've given nine out of 10 families more money each month to help with the costs of raising their kids," Trudeau says.

It's strange to witness: He speaks in a modulated, indoor voice. His dark hair is a color found in nature. At home, there is a glamorous wife and three photogenic children, still not old enough to warm his seat at next week's G-20 summit or be involved in an espionage scandal.

When Trudeau moves on to his feminist bona fides (women and minorities make up more than half of his Cabinet), he pauses for a moment, but does not lose his train of thought. His words are coherent and will not need to be run through Google Translate when he is done (except if you want to translate his French into English).

He talks about steps taken to deal with the opioid crisis and mentions the country's dropping unemployment rate. He uses the original Clintonian recipe on the crowd: "We're focused on getting people into good careers and helping families get ahead and stay ahead," he says. "But we know there's more hard work in front of us than there is behind us."

Then he gives the press corps a high-five.

"The back and forth between the press and government is essential to any good democracy," he says. "When you're at your best, it reminds us and challenges us to be at ours. So thank you all for your tireless work."

Where are we? Narnia? Coachella recovery tent? 2009? We are in Ottawa, Ontario, a mere 560 miles from Washington, D.C.

And yet, we are half a world away.


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Other than that, how's that rental closet renovation coming along? About ready to take in a Trump refugee?

Trudeaumania has officially engulfed the US, but as Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary it's worth noting that the Canadian prime minister's approval ratings have tumbled to their lowest since he took office 20 months ago.

The Canadian leader's welcoming approach to refugees, advocacy for women's rights, and strides towards marijuana legalization have been major factors in his popularity both back home and abroad.

Four in 10 Americans would prefer to have Justin Trudeau be the US president instead of Donald Trump, an Ipsos poll found in February.

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But in Canada, the initial honeymoon period of mobbing to take selfies with the prime minister is clearly over.

A Forum Research poll found that, by May 2017, only 42% of Canadians approved of how Trudeau was leading the country. Approval ratings, though still high compared to past prime ministers, are at their lowest point since Trudeau took office in November 2015.

Trudeau has faced criticism for supporting oil pipeline expansion, going ahead with a controversial plan to supply military vehicles to Saudi Arabia, underfunding social services to Canada's Aboriginal community, failing to fulfill his promises of electoral reform, and, last winter, taking a luxurious vacation on a billionaire's private island.

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While liberal Americans continue to exalt the Canadian prime minister for his progressive values — or, in some cases, simply for his good looks — Canadians aren't all convinced.