Justin Trudeau needs to pull rabbit or something out of a top hat

In politics, success comes from communication; being the best at telling your story to voters.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberals have been the best at selling their ideas since winning election just over two years ago. But they came off like used car salesmen in this summer’s tax fairness storm.

Trudeau was cheered for his first tax fairness law, re-distributing the new family allowance to lower income people from the wealthy.

His second phase, ensuring wealthy taxpayers didn’t use low corporate taxes to cut their tax bill, was widely slammed.

A proposal put out for comment in midsummer when most people affected are either on holidays or out in the field left the impression that Trudeau was trying to sneak the new fairness rules in. Organized uproar from the accounting profession across Canada gave the opposition credibility. People still trust accountants, enough that no one pointed out accountants had more to lose from the law than most small business owners.

The government backed off some of the controversial tax changes leaving an impression of a reasonable law. After all, the initial plan was just out for comment from the public.

No sooner had the Liberals backed off, Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s failure to put his assets in a blind trust became the issue. Morneau did what rules allow but not what an angry public wants. By all accounts, the first-time politician is honest and naive. Like many businessmen, he doesn’t understand the nuances of politics.

By the time an angry public, an angry business community and an angry media were through, the once highly regarded finance minister had as much credibility as a used car salesman.

In a recent opinion poll, 41 per cent of respondents thought the Liberal tax fairness plan helped the wealthy most. Another poll showed 66 per cent believe Morneau is ineffective or somewhat ineffective. Without the credibility from creating tax fairness among corporate and non-corporate business, Trudeau has gone two years achieving few of his major promises.

The re-distribution of money to more deserving families was a big hit. The corporation tax fairness plan, no matter what impact it has, brings unpopular memories to mind. Forget mentioning it during the campaign.

The promise that 2014 would be the last federal first, past the post- election, was dropped after consultations. Changing first past the post in time for 2018 isn’t possible.

A two election system with the top two candidates running in every riding a week later would be possible and fair but unlikely, since the Liberals said people don’t want a change.

Trudeau’s promises on First Nations issues have not borne any political fruit. The Commission on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women seems to have no solution.

Attempts at improving Indigenous lives are met with scorn: not enough, too little too late.

Time is running short for Trudeau to introduce legislation that will rally the electorate around him. His smile and sunny ways need to see him through the next election.

On the international stage, Trudeau is a hit but those admirers don’t have a vote.

A rejection of NAFTA by the Americans, or a mishap in current trade talks with China, could cost him.