Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talks budgets, Syrian refugees, and promoting Brand Canada

Bloomberg News Ottawa correspondent Josh Wingrove talked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about several issues, including his country’s economy and its role in the world. President Trump? My approach to politics is I work across all party lines. I don’t pick and choose ideologies. I’ll work with whomever the Americans send to the White House. Balanced budgets It’s a means to an end. Don’t make it the be-all and end-all, because you may be missing out on opportunities to grow your economy, to help citizens prosper. Taking in Syrian refugees What’s going to be more powerful is when a year from now, or two years from now, stories start going around the world about how extraordinarily productive and successful [they are]. Infrastructure Optimistic, confident countries should be willing to invest in their future. ... The fact that we’re already that much in the hole in deficit is not a reason not to do the investment. It’s even more of a reason we need to be investing intelligently. The U.S. and Canada The better we can get along, the better we can work together on shared priorities, the better we can agree to disagree on things that don’t work, the better it will be for both sides.

Made in Canada One of the big things I’m trying to promote is the Canadian brand. If something is made in Canada, what are the attributes that you’d attach to it? I’d like that to be that it’s done responsibly, it’s environmentally sound, it’s done with quality in mind, it’s done in an innovative, respectful way.