Trudeau’s tasks for 2018

It’s time again for New Year’s resolutions, and as millions of Canadians make their 2018 to-do list, here are four suggestions for Justin Trudeau.

Trade tests

First and foremost, the prime minister should resolve to defend Canada’s trading interests.

Have no doubt, our economy depends on trade and most of it is with the United States.

Yet the U.S. is driving a hard bargain in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, and its protectionist president, Donald Trump, might tear up the deal.

Trudeau must do his best to salvage NAFTA, but if that can’t happen, he needs a contingency plan that could include a separate deal with our other NAFTA partner, Mexico.

The shaky future of North American trade makes it even more important for Trudeau to find a way forward with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed deal that includes 10 other Pacific-rim nations. Simply put, we need new markets.

Meanwhile, Trudeau must move with cautious determination as he tries to strengthen trade ties with China, the world’s second largest economy but also an authoritarian bully.

The Indigenous agenda

At the same time, the prime minister should resolve to work harder to keep his many promises to Canada’s Indigenous Peoples.

Too many communities still lack a safe supply of drinking water while the needs of too many children are unmet.

The Liberals have repeatedly pledged to accept all 94 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s “calls to action.”

But how they would do this remains unclear because implementing some recommendations — including greater self-government powers for Indigenous communities — would require major changes to how Canada is run.

Meanwhile, the people for whom the national Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was created have overwhelmingly condemned its lack of progress.

Can Trudeau at least put this important inquiry back on track?

Oh cannabis

Legalizing recreational marijuana is Trudeau’s baby and he should resolve to ensure its smooth delivery in mid-2018.

While the provinces are doing much of the heavy lifting on this file, the federal government must work in tandem with them on matters such as pricing, supply, education, enforcement and controlling the black market.

This is the most significant legal and social change the Liberals will make in this term and they have to get it right.

The climate conundrum

In the coming year, the provinces must fall in line with Trudeau’s audacious plan to fight climate change by putting a price on carbon.

But while the prime minister’s intentions are laudable, the autumn report by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Julie Gelfand, blasted the federal government for not doing enough to turn its climate-change talk into concrete action.

Trudeau must resolve to keep his previous resolutions on greenhouse gas reduction.

To be sure, over-promising and under-delivering has become an unwelcome habit for Trudeau’s Liberal government.

Yet if they can make — and keep — these resolutions, they can overcome that reputation while ensuring 2018 is a better year for every Canadian.