Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in the news after he hit out at India on Wednesday, saying the country has made “a terrible mistake” by allegedly aggressively interfering in Canada’s sovereignty. Mr Trudeau’s statement – his strongest in a year of diplomatic tensions between the two countries – comes days after India and Canada expelled six of each other’s diplomats.
India’s Foreign Ministry has hit back at Justin Trudeau, saying Canada has not presented any evidence to support “serious allegations made against India and Indian diplomats”.
Who is Justin Trudeau?
Justin Trudeau, the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, has led the country through significant challenges. From climate change and economic uncertainty to diplomatic tensions and national security concerns, Mr. Trudeau has shown strong leadership.
Early life and education
Justin Trudeau was born into political royalty on December 25, 1971, in Ottawa, Ontario. He is the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Margaret Trudeau.
Justin Trudeau studied literature at McGill University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994. He then completed the education program at the University of British Columbia and spent several years teaching French and mathematics in Vancouver.
Before entering politics, he engaged in community service as president of Katimavik, a national youth volunteer organization founded by his father. He was also on the board of the Canadian Avalanche Foundation. Justin Trudeau also worked at a Montreal radio station covering the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and had a role in the television miniseries, The Great War.
political innings
Justin Trudeau’s entry into politics was marked by his election to the House of Commons in 2008, representing the district of Papineau. He served as the Liberal Party’s official opposition critic for Youth and Multiculturalism, Citizenship and Immigration and Secondary Education and Sport. He was re-elected in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
Justin Trudeau became leader of the Liberal Party in April 2013, focusing on job creation, economic growth and environmental protection. His victory with 80 percent of the vote prepared him for the 2015 general election, where he faced Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
He was sworn in as Prime Minister on November 4, 2015, two weeks after leading the Liberal Party to victory on October 19.
As Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau continues to make waves in Canadian politics. In 2016, he established the Canada Child Benefit, legalized medical aid in dying, and introduced a federal carbon tax. They also legalized recreational marijuana through the Cannabis Act in 2018. Additionally, he attempted Senate appointment reform by establishing an independent advisory board for Senate appointees and introduced a federal carbon tax.
He also appointed Canada’s first gender-balanced Cabinet.
personal life
Justin Trudeau married Sophie Grégoire in 2005 in Montreal. They have three children – Xavier (2007), Ella-Grace (2009) and Hadrian (2014).
In June 2013, after Mr. Trudeau became leader of the Liberal Party, he sold his Montreal home and rented a place in Ottawa. In 2014, while Ms. Gregoire and the children were sleeping, an intruder broke in and left a threatening note. Justin Trudeau was out at that time. After winning the 2015 elections, he moved into Rideau Cottage.
foreign policy achievements
Justin Trudeau’s government negotiated trade deals such as the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. He also signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr. Trudeau’s government also signed the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2016.
wins the election
Justin Trudeau led the Liberal Party to two consecutive minority government victories in Canadian federal elections. In the 2019 federal election, Mr. Trudeau’s Liberal Party won 157 seats but lost its previous majority, requiring the support of other parties to govern. The campaign focused on economic security and climate action, building on successes from his 2015 victory when he enacted tax cuts and child benefits.
In the 2021 federal election, Justin Trudeau once again led the Liberals to another minority government. This repeated outcome also emphasized the need for continued coalition-building.
Initiative
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Justin Trudeau’s government responded with a variety of measures, including a ban on “assault-style” weapons in 2020, and launching a national $10-a-day childcare program in 2021. Recently, Justin Trudeau launched a National School Food Program and entered into a confidence and supply agreement with the New Democratic Party (NDP) on March 22, 2022. The agreement resulted in a framework for a Canadian Dental Care Plan and national pharmacare, both to be introduced in 2022.
India–Canada relations under Trudeau’s rule
India-Canada diplomatic tensions have increased significantly under the Justin Trudeau government. The crisis began with the death of Canadian citizen and Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. Mr. Trudeau’s government claimed that agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder. India vehemently denies these claims.
The diplomatic fallout was swift, with Canada expelling six Indian diplomats and India responding in kind. India also recalled its High Commissioner and other targeted officials from Canada. Justin Trudeau claimed that Indian agents were involved not only in Nijjar’s murder but also in other violent activities in Canada. India rejected these claims, calling them “nonsense” and criticizing Mr Trudeau’s government for “vote bank politics”.
controversies
- aga khan controversy: In 2016, Justin Trudeau and his family vacationed on the Aga Khan’s private island in the Bahamas. The Aga Khan, a spiritual leader, also heads a development network that receives funding from the Canadian government. This raised concerns about conflicts of interest and ethics. An investigation by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner found Mr. Trudeau to have violated four sections of the Conflict of Interest Act.
- SNC-Lavalin issue: SNC-Lavalin, a Canadian engineering firm, faced corruption and fraud charges related to Libyan business transactions. The company lobbied the government for intervention. Justin Trudeau and his office were accused of pressuring Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to grant a deferred prosecution agreement to SNC-Lavalin. Mr Wilson-Raybould refused and was subsequently removed from his cabinet position.
- freedom convoy: The Canada convoy protest, known as the Freedom Convoy, began in January 2022 against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truck drivers. These truck drivers from across Canada gathered in Ottawa to express broad anti-government grievances against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As the protests grew, Mr. Trudeau moved to safety and called the demonstrations an “insult to the truth.” On 14 February, he invoked the Emergency Act, which faced legal challenges. The announcement was canceled on 23 February after the protests ended following police intervention.
