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The trouble began in late-November when US President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, accusing them of not doing enough to stop the flow of illegal drugs, such as fentanyl and undocumented immigrants. This led to doubts about Trudeau’s ability to manage the situation. In response, he quickly met Trump and promised to strengthen border controls.
Canada sends a lot of oil and natural gas to the United States, making it a key supplier. The US also depends on Canada for other goods, such as steel, aluminium and cars.
The situation escalated on December 16 when Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, announced that she was stepping down. A Reuters report revealed that Canada’s budget for 2023-’24 showed a deficit of C$61.9 billion (about $43 billion)—much higher than what the government had originally predicted. This means that the country is spending far more money than it earns, creating a larger financial gap than expected.
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In her resignation letter, Freeland explained that the Prime Minister did not want her to continue as finance minister and had, instead, offered her a different role in the Cabinet. Freeland warned that a trade war with the US could be very costly, as the US was focussing on putting its own economy first. She said Canada needs to be careful with its spending now so it can handle any problems that may come up in future.
The Quick Rise of a Promising Talent
Justin Trudeau started his career as a high school teacher and, later, took on different roles in education, charities and within the Liberal Party. In 2013, he became the leader of Canada’s Centre-Left Liberal Party. Before entering politics, he also worked as a nightclub bouncer and snowboard instructor. Trudeau has three children with his estranged wife, who was once a model and TV host.
Two years later, he led the party to a big win in the federal election, defeating the ruling Conservative Party and securing a majority in Parliament.
Trudeau became Canada’s second-youngest prime minister at the age of 43 in 2015. That same year, he was described by Vogue as “the new young face of Canadian politics”, with other media highlighting his charisma and good looks.
Early in his time as prime minister, his government introduced several important policies. These included legalizing euthanasia (assisted dying) in 2016, allowing recreational cannabis—a drug made from the cannabis plant, also known as marijuana—in 2018 and finalising the Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement (CUSMA) in 2018.
His father, Pierre Trudeau, also left a deep imprint on Canadian history. Serving as prime minister from 1968 for nearly 16 years, Pierre is remembered for his progressive policies, particularly his openness to immigration. Often compared to John F Kennedy, he remains one of the few Canadian leaders widely recognized in the US.
CUSMA: NAFTA’s Modern Successor
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—a landmark trade deal between Canada, the US and Mexico—governed trade relations between these nations from 1994 to 2020. Its goal was to eliminate trade barriers, fostering a seamless flow of goods and services.
However, as global trade evolved, so did the need for a modernized agreement. This led to the negotiation and finalization of CUSMA in 2018. Although completed in 2018, CUSMA officially replaced NAFTA on July 1, 2020, after being ratified by all three countries.
CUSMA builds upon NAFTA’s foundation, incorporating updates and provisions relevant to the 21st Century economy. This includes stricter rules for auto production, greater access to Canadian dairy markets and modernized digital trade regulations.
PM Trudeau’s Apology and Actions
Trudeau said “sorry” to indigenous people—the original inhabitants of a land with distinct cultures, languages and traditions that existed before colonization; in Canada, this includes First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples—for the harm caused by residential schools in the country’s past. These schools were places where indigenous children were taken away from their families and often treated badly. Trudeau also helped by opening Canada’s doors to welcome thousands of refugees, giving them a safe place to live.
Canada’s residential schools aimed at erasing indigenous culture, which valued deep connections to land, language and community. Children were taken from their families and punished for practising their traditions, forced instead to learn European languages and customs. This caused immense suffering and cultural loss.
Trudeau’s approval ratings were as high as 63%, but his image was tarnished by a ‘blackface scandal’ in 2019. Photos and videos from the 1990s and 2001 showed him wearing blackface and brownface, which hurt his reputation as a progressive and liberal leader.
What Was the Blackface Scandal?
The biggest personal challenge for Trudeau during the 2019 election came when several photos surfaced showing him wearing ‘blackface’, a racist portrayal of Black people. There were three instances: a photo from a 2001 yearbook when he was a teacher; a photo from his high school days; and a video of him as a young man.
The story came to light when Time magazine published a photo from a 2001 yearbook at West Point Grey Academy, a private school in Vancouver where Trudeau was a teacher. The school held an Arabian Nights-themed gala and Trudeau was dressed as Aladdin, wearing ‘blackface’ and a turban. Time magazine reported that the photo was shared by Michael Adamson, a Vancouver businessman connected to the West Point Grey Academy community.
Trudeau faced heavy criticism and had to hold an urgent press conference on his campaign bus. He apologized. “I take full responsibility for what I did. I shouldn’t have done it,” he said. “I should have known better. At the time, I didn’t realize it was racist. But, now, I understand it was and I’m truly sorry.” The Liberal Party confirmed that the photos and video were those of Trudeau, but did not release an official statement, according to the Economic Times.
Trudeau first faced trouble with the ethics commissioner in December 2017 when it was revealed that he had violated “conflict of interest” rules by spending Christmas vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island.
What Was Agha Khan Scandal About?
The Aga Khan, Prince Shah Karim al-Husseini, resides primarily in France, but also travels frequently due to his role as the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community. He is not anti-Canada; in fact, he has strong ties to the country. The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) collaborates with Canada on various humanitarian and development projects. Additionally, he was granted honorary Canadian citizenship in 2009, recognizing his contributions to global development and humanitarian work.
The conflict of interest issue arose because Justin Trudeau and his family vacationed on the Aga Khan’s private island in 2016. The Aga Khan’s foundation, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, receives funding from the Canadian government. As Prime Minister, Trudeau’s involvement with someone whose organization benefits from federal funding raised concerns about impartiality and favouritism.
Canada’s ethics rules prohibit public officials from accepting gifts or benefits that could influence their decision-making. The trip was considered a “gift”, because Trudeau did not pay for the vacation and it created the appearance of a potential conflict of interest. In 2017, the ethics commissioner ruled that Trudeau had violated “conflict of interest” rules by accepting the trip.
Trudeau’s Costumes on India Visit
During an eight-day visit to India in February 2018, the Trudeau family faced criticism on social media for wearing overly extravagant and flashy traditional outfits, while many Indian officials they met were dressed in simple suits.
Khalistani extremist Jaspal Atwal, who was convicted in 1986 for attempting to assassinate an Indian politician in Canada, was invited to a reception held for Justin Trudeau in New Delhi. This caused embarrassment and raised serious concerns during Trudeau’s trip to India. Atwal had been convicted of attempting to assassinate Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in Vancouver in 1986 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. At the time, Atwal was a member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation, a group advocating for Sikh separatism.
Trudeau faced similar and significant embarrassment when Atwal was photographed with his now-estranged wife, Sophie Grégoire, and other senior officials during an event in Mumbai. This happened during Trudeau’s first official visit to India. While taking a photo at a mosque in Old Delhi, a reporter shouted at the Canadian Prime Minister, “Mr Trudeau, why did you invite a Khalistani terrorist to a reception?”
And The Story of the Casino Kingpin
In 2020, the National Post reported that Wei Wei, a real estate developer based in Toronto, faced charges after the police uncovered, and raided, an illegal casino operating inside a mansion. In 2016, Wei met Trudeau on at least two occasions and was part of an industry group supported by the Chinese government that also held meetings with Trudeau. A group member gave away $1 million to Trudeau’s foundation and funded his father’s statue. This meeting eventually led to changes in the Liberal Party’s fundraising rules.
His Minority Government and COVID
Trudeau led the Liberal Party to a close victory in the 2019 election, but it left his government in a minority. Less than two years later (September 20, 2021) during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, he called for an early election, hoping that his management of the pandemic and Canada’s high vaccination rates would earn him a stronger mandate. However, the gamble did not pay off. But his party still fell short of winning a Parliament majority.
Canada has some of the most lenient euthanasia laws in the world. But, starting in 2022, these laws faced growing criticism. Advocates argued that many people choosing euthanasia might have been better helped if they had had access to improved government support to manage their pain and suffering. They called for closer review of the system.
In recent years, Trudeau’s popularity has plummeted significantly. Many people blame rising immigration, skyrocketing housing prices and high inflation. Over 70% of Canadians in polls say they feel the country is “broken” under his leadership.
In October this year, Trudeau announced that Canada would cut its permanent immigration target by 21% in 2025, reducing it from 500,000 to 395,000 people. He admitted that the government “didn’t get the balance quite right” with the previous goal.
( The author of this article is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com )