Trudeau must reset, or lose
By almost every measure, Justin Trudeau has had a disastrous start to 2023.
In rapid succession, he’s had to withdraw his gun-control legislation, come under attack from Quebec leaders for his controversial appointment of Amira Elghawaby as the first special representative on combating Islamophobia and faced relentless criticism over continuing delays in delivering passports and fixing airport luggage problems.
At the same time the majority of Canadians don’t feel Trudeau’s government is paying enough attention to the issues that really worry them, namely the economy, cost of living and health care. Even his biggest supporters must agree his poll numbers are terrible, with some surveys suggesting the Conservatives under Pierre Poilievre may be headed to a majority government in the next election.
Average Liberal supporters in places such as Whitby, near Toronto, believe Trudeau and the Liberals need a major reset if they are to have any hope of winning re-election. Whitby is one of those key swing areas where elections are won or lost.
Local residents with whom I spoke this week and who voted Liberal in the 2021 election express deep frustration with Trudeau. They see Trudeau as his own worst enemy, a leader who makes too many mistakes. They want him to stop apologizing for a seemingly endless litany of the country’s perceived past failures and sins. Critically, they also want him to show he can be fiscally wise as well as socially progressive, which are two traditional Liberal touchstones that for some have gone missing under Trudeau.
What can Trudeau do to give some hope to these Liberals who fear the next election is lost already? After talking with some Whitby-area Liberals — not some Parliament Hill backroom strategists and operatives — are six simple suggestions:
First, stop talking about the progress we’ve made on combating COVID-19. Stop reminding us about the anti-vaxxers and the trucker protesters. It’s time to focus on current pressing issues such as the economy.
Second, while Canadians believe the country is still struggling economically, Trudeau should start talking about areas that are looking up, taking credit for policies that have helped lower unemployment, increased industrial investments and eased taxes for many.
Third, with his new 10-year $46-billion health-care proposal to provincial and territorial leaders, Trudeau should stress Ottawa’s health-care successes, which are recognized by the more than 85 per cent of Canadians who still support universal health care.
Fourth, start paying more attention to deficit reduction, starting with a serious longrange plan to balance the budget while at the same time improving economic conditions for working families.
Fifth, focus on essentials that affect day-to-day life, improving the quality of government services, such as passport approvals, immigration clearance and speedy delivery of unemployment payments.
Sixth, start countering Poilievre’s claims “Canada is broken” and it’s all Trudeau’s fault by talking up the country’s improvements in human development that are reflected in Canada being ranked third best country in the world by U.S News & World Report and 15th out of 146 nations as the happiest countries in the world, according to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Together, these form the basis for a deliberate — and desperately needed — “reset” for Trudeau and the Liberals. The big question is will any of this work? Will voters listen to Trudeau? Or are enough so fed up with Trudeau that his defeat is seen as a sure thing?
Trudeau is a fighter and has come from behind in past elections. If he listens to simple advice from average Liberals in places like Whitby, the next election could well be another come-from-behind victory.