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TRENDING Uber | Duffy | Trudeau | Trump | Star Wars | When ‘good’ debt goes ‘bad’ Michael Den Tandt: Go ahead and cringe — but Justin Trudeau can’t be waved aside
MICHAEL DEN TANDT | December 13, 2015 | Last Updated: Dec 13 11:52 PM ET Republish More from Michael Den Tandt | @mdentandt Reprint Republish Reprint Republish Reprint
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau gaze into each others' eyes during Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa, Nov. 11, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
As a catalyst for grumpiness, he’s off the charts.
As though it weren’t enough Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent most of the past month being lauded by presidents, prime ministers and the occasional hereditary monarch, he must now add insult to injury by getting himself held up by The New York Times as an example to the world on Syrian refugees. He must be featured in a fawning Vogue magazine article that both deploys the dreaded Camelot reference and features sumptuous photographs of the beautiful, famous, wealthy, young and now powerful Trudeaus looking as though they’re very fond of one another. Can anything be more galling?
In the Stephen Harper era we had khaki vests, receding hairlines and bulges where there should be none, as well as a worldview that filtered all reality through the eyes of an annoyed accountant. We were used to that. But now, this … effusia. It’s a lot. It’s an as-yet un-deployed argument for proportional representation, that it could mitigate whiplash-inducing revolutions in personal style among the political class. Let svelte Tories henceforth wear silk scarves over tuxedos to CBC galas while Liberals are lumpy and wear plaid. Can it be so hard? But we digress. Let’s look more closely at where we stand, six weeks in.
It’s quite fair to say the Trudeau government is highly aspirational – even perilously so. This is, as the slogan says, a real change. Jean Chretien took office in 1993 with an implicit promise to stay out of our faces, as Brian Mulroney had never managed to do. Harper borrowed a leaf from Chretien’s book. Hence the incrementalism to which Canadians had grown quietly, if glumly, accustomed.
Trudeau has upended that apple cart, and in so doing is daring the risk of failure on multiple Kelly McParland: Liberals fronts. His first act was to put in place a cabinet dominated by talented, politically untested owe Canadians a referendum before ditching newcomers and set them free. Since then potentially transformative events have followed thick and a successful election model fast. The Senate is in chaos, with century-old norms of operation suddenly up for re-examination. after 150 years
The new appointments process, intended to be non-partisan, could fail utterly. The first Senate Rona Ambrose issued a bit of appointments in the New Year will be picked over for even minute traces of pro-Liberal advice Wednesday to which Justin Trudeau would be wise to pay partisanship, which will be held up as evidence of hypocrisy. How the new Upper House will push attention. through legislation remains anyone’s guess. Ambrose warned the new prime minister to move cautiously on the To call the government’s just-renewed commitment to First Nations sweeping is an Liberals’ pledge to introduce a understatement. There’s the inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women as a starting radical makeover to Canada’s electoral system. Before ditching a point. Long overdue, it is a potential minefield because of the truth it will likely lay bare, which is system that has served the country that the racist Indian Act itself is a huge part of the problem. That’s not even getting to redressing well for almost 150 years and replacing it with an untried new the underfunding in aboriginal education, ensuring potable water on reserves and adopting all 94 model, she argued, he has a duty to recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Success in each of these areas will examine just how keen Canadians are on wholesale change. require a sea change in attitudes as well as very substantial spending. Then there are the outstanding land claims – the settlement of which will cost an unknown sum, certain to be in the Read more … billions. Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie in a photo from the January issue of Vogue magazine. Norman Jean Roy/Vogue
The Liberals’ democratic reform agenda — in particular their vow to abolish the first-past-the-post electoral system before the next vote — is a monumental challenge all by its lonesome. It’s already clear, from the tenor of early debate, that it will be very difficult to justify pushing this through without a referendum. Yet, aren’t such potentially fractious national debates just what these Liberals, on the campaign trail, promised to avoid? Here again, the potential for a teeth-shattering misstep is large.
Set against that, however, is this: The status quo in the Senate was broken — and had been broken for longer than anyone can remember. The status quo in aboriginal affairs was appalling inequity and injustice, dating back 150 years. The status quo in Canadian democracy, by common agreement since at least the Pierre Trudeau era, has been one of steady decay. Would it be better to just leave it all alone? Forever?
In broaching major reforms the Liberals are inviting the certainty of some future failures. They are also opening the door to debate, which can lead to eventual compromises that may result in lasting improvements, whereas until recently there was little hope of any, on multiple fronts.
No one in Canada, six months ago, contemplated a Syrian refugee rescue on the scale being implemented now, missed deadline or no. Yet it is happening. That the Prime Minister was on hand to greet the first planeload of arrivals, and that opposition critics were invited to attend and did so, can’t easily be waved aside. It marks a profound change. From the start of his run for the Liberal leadership in 2012, Trudeau said he would not be a placeholder. It appears he meant that. We are in for a ride.
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Tom Hardy · Queen's University The comments of all the hater's here miss the point entirely. Trudeau is the front man for Canada and he's advancing our brand at a rapid rate in the world! Through him we have the attention of the world and he will emerge as a foremost statesman like his father. This modern change is most welcome!
Like · Reply · 122 · Dec 13, 2015 12:02pm
Jean-Louis Houde · Montreal, Quebec Wow , you are already smoking the good stuff.By the way these days Trump draws more attention
Like · Reply · 53 · Dec 13, 2015 12:15pm
Sue Miller He is the front man for Brian Topp and the old Liberal sleaze bag crowd.
Like · Reply · 55 · Dec 13, 2015 12:36pm
Patrick Benjamin Mains · Concession Cashier at The Calgary Zoo Except he lacks his father's intelligence or any notable accomplishment othan having the Liberal leadership handed to him on the basis of his name. Here is the thing about brands: they exist solely for advertising, which are prone to hyperbole over substance and often fail at delivering their promises.
Like · Reply · 70 · Dec 13, 2015 12:47pm · Edited
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Ellen Jones Didn't see him at Pierre Trudeau Airport to greet refugees on Saturday. Must have got enough exposure at the first arrival. Loves that camera ! Well, he's a drama teacher, what can you say?
Like · Reply · 69 · Dec 13, 2015 11:51am
Bud Lorry The old kiss the baby trick I would like to see a clip on Junior welcoming 14 -16 years old boys and telling them thier citizenship won't be taken away if they become terrorist
Like · Reply · 23 · Dec 13, 2015 12:01pm
Sue Miller His nannies had the day off on Saturday so he had to babysit.
Like · Reply · 32 · Dec 13, 2015 12:34pm Like · Reply · 32 · Dec 13, 2015 12:34pm
Darryl Kippen what a petty commnent!
Like · Reply · 37 · Dec 13, 2015 12:59pm
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Ken Cotton · Abbotsford Collegiate The popularity of stupid ideas is nothing new. We're going to be stuck with the Liberals trashing the country and stuffing as much money in their pockets as they can, then people will vote for Conservatives to clean it up. Then they will get tired of Conservatives and vote for the FLASHY! NEW! Liberals, who will do the same thing all over again.
Real change. Real seasonal change.
Like · Reply · 59 · Dec 13, 2015 1:04pm
Hugh Whittington · Works at Self-Employed Ken, you are 100% correct.
Like · Reply · 19 · Dec 13, 2015 2:06pm
Cecile McVittie · Kamloops, British Columbia Let's see: Duffy, PMO, KPMG...yeah Conservatives never stuff money in their pockets.... Biggest rip off artists ever and the best lie: they're good with the economy. BAHAHAHAHA!
Like · Reply · 24 · Dec 13, 2015 3:20pm
Ken Cotton · Abbotsford Collegiate Cecile McVittie Harper saw Canada through the recession with some of the best numbers achieved internationally. Meanwhile, more Liberal countries went into spending blackholes.
Like · Reply · 30 · Dec 13, 2015 3:24pm
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Rudolph Von Galen "Sunny ways," and what was it, "real change"? We should all be exceedingly terrified of such words, seeing what has played out in America over the last 7+ years. Since President Obama has taken office he has ignored the law of the land, the Constitution, which was designed to keep despots in check, and passed 195 executive orders, and 198 presidential memoranda, which carry the same legal weight as executive orders! Even the war he declared on Libya was illegal as it did not have the support of Congress. the President has alienated friendly nations and allies, while he has enabled terrorists, ... See More
Like · Reply · 24 · Dec 13, 2015 12:16pm
Wendy Peck That sounds like short rundown of what Fox news promotes, sprinkled with a little Donald Trump where actually saying the lie on Fox might be a legal problem.
Like · Reply · 18 · Dec 13, 2015 2:11pm
Barry Douglas Robbins · University of Victoria Wendy Peck Women like you make all women appear to be political dullards.
Like · Reply · 13 · Dec 13, 2015 3:20pm
Ian Coutts · Network Engineer/Analyst/Problem-solver at Self-Employed Mr. Den Tandt's article is about Canada, not the U. S. One cannot conflate the two. two.
However, in response to your irrelevant comment, President Obama's use of executive orders is a challenge to congress to pull their thumbs out and do its job. "If you can't, or won't, do what you are supposed to do then I'll do what must be done by whatever means available."
Like · Reply · 11 · Dec 13, 2015 4:09pm
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Ellen Jones Yeah, name equal amount of females to cabinet, most in minor posts, although there is no men there & pay them less. Also insult female member of the opposition while she's speaking. ''Forked tongue''? No, liar!
Like · Reply · 18 · Dec 13, 2015 11:48am
Alex Droog · Toronto, Ontario Correct. He said that HALF of his Cabinet Ministers would be women. Only 10 are actual Ministers... Harper had 13...
Like · Reply · 20 · Dec 13, 2015 1:23pm
Laurel Faryon Alex Droog
Like · Reply · 1 · Dec 13, 2015 3:43pm
Laurel Faryon I believe there are half women but some are Junior Ministers. Like · Reply · Dec 13, 2015 3:44pm
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