He. Is. Not. Going. Anywhere!
Are you surprised? He’s not even talking to you. You — the public, the people, the voters, the men and women who thought that democracy entitled them to demand of their leader an accountability. He’s laughing at you.
Suck it up, the worst is yet to come.
In the last two days, as the dollar plunged, as the economic foundations shifted under our feet, as Donald Trump circled, Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, was skulking, lurking, hiding.
After scuttling through back doors Monday to escape the public gaze, Trudeau — who did not think it necessary to address Canadians after the bombshell resignation of his finance minister — popped up Monday evening to speak to the party faithful and tell them how he wakes up “every single day” to make the country better.
But to the families who every single day struggle to do their best: he said nothing.
Tuesday was another day of hiding from Canadians and staying out of sight, before appearing at a Liberal Christmas party.
“We are the greatest,” said Trudeau on Tuesday night. And the Liberal crowd cheered. Of course they would: to the Liberals he is the greatest. To Trudeau, he is the greatest.
And so this is where we are at: a prime minister hiding from Canadians and seeking succour and solace in the bosom of Liberal stalwarts who will give him the sympathy and the applause he so badly needs.
That Trudeau can’t bring himself to face the general public perhaps shows the depth of this crisis more than anything; he’ll talk to the devoted, but Canadians are shunned and ignored.
Maybe because it was obviously a rushed affair that the meat of the speech to the acolytes on Monday was so histrionic and predictable. According to the speech by the prime minister: Liberals are doing a great job, Pierre Poilievre is evil, he (the PM) loves this country and let’s all work together to defeat the Conservatives.
He wasn’t so tactless as to mention the departed Freeland and her withering resignation letter that accused the prime minister of political gimmicks instead of good economic stewardship and of looking out for the Liberals instead of the country.
Trudeau began by acknowledging it hadn’t been “an easy day” before bombastically declaring ”how damn proud I am of what we have done over the past nine years.”
No mention of the fall economic statement that showed the Liberals had increased the deficit to $62 billion after pledging in the spring budget to keep it to $40 billion.
Then came the demonizing of the Conservative Opposition leader.
“What makes Pierre Poilievre different is that he is actively willing to bet against Canadians and Canada. He says Canada is broken while actually doing his damndest to break it,” said Trudeau.
Then, in full avuncular mode, he added, “I love this country. I really do. I trust Canadians. There’s no place I’d rather be than Canada. And it has been the absolute privilege of my life to serve as your prime minister.”
But he’s not just the prime minister of the Liberal elite, he’s the prime minister of Canada, and as such should have respected the people by addressing their concerns and fears.
Such as: how do we respond to president-elect Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs threat with a government in meltdown mode; a prime minister slinking through the halls of power; Perhaps 60 Liberal MPs, according to some media speculation, calling for the head of their leader; a mini budget that appears to show Canada on dangerous economic ground and a dollar that has sunk below 70 cents?
To the Liberal donors on Monday, Trudeau seemed to suggest that the successful future of Canada was in his hands.
“Canada is the best country on earth, but it’s not perfect. That’s why I wake up every single day thinking about how to make this nation work better for all Canadians,” he said. “That mission, to consistently put in the work so that we are living up to our ideals and values, that’s at the core of what makes us Liberals and it’s why you show up here even on the toughest days as a party.”
But is he quitting? He made no sign of it.
“You know that the only thing that ultimately matters is fighting like hell, every single day, to make life better for Canadians,” he said at the end of his speech.
Earlier in the day, Trudeau addressed his national caucus, “listened carefully to their concerns” and would “reflect” on them, Dominic LeBlanc, the newly minted finance minister told the CBC.
Is Trudeau reflecting on the caucus concerns the same one who is prepared to fight like hell?
Is it the same Trudeau who met his caucus in October, heard their concerns and reflected on them, only to say a day later he was going nowhere?
It took less than 24 hours in October to reflect and dismiss the concerns of his caucus. It may take longer to dismiss the nation’s concerns now.
But wait. Parliament is now on a six week break. Trudeau will be on vacation. He can continue to hunker down and deflect. He’s spoken to the those who are true.
And you, dear Canada, don’t matter. You never did. You weren’t even worth speaking to.
National Post