Trudeau undeterred on pot, tax plans

Prime Minister criticized on UN peacekeeping delay, public cost of island vacation

ST. JOHN’S, N.L.— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will push ahead with controversial plans to legalize pot over the objection of police chiefs and some premiers, and with tax hikes on “wealthy” Canadians over the objection of small businesses and some Liberal caucus members, saying he promised to do so in the election campaign.

But the Liberal leader shrugged off repeated questions about his unfulfilled pledge to deploy Canadian troops to UN peacekeeping operations, saying Canada’s allies, military and citizens know he’s serious about “stepping up” and understand the delay in order to get it “right.”

“We will take the time necessary to do it properly,” he told reporters.

Pressed hard after the Star revealed the government has not yet decided on a mission and won’t before the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Forum in Vancouver on Nov. 14 and 15, Trudeau stuck to the same talking points the government has cited over the past year, since announcing it would contribute 600 soldiers and 150 police officers to an African peace operation.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, told the Star in an email, “We are very pleased that Canada has announced its willingness to contribute to UN peacekeeping, and we look forward to Canada’s announcement of its decision at the Vancouver summit. This is something that the defence minister indicated would happen when he spoke at a press conference at the UN a few months ago.”

“In my view, it’s an embarrassment, because we’re either in or we’re out,” said lawyer Stuart Hendin, a consultant with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

He said Canada’s bid for a Security Council seat will be hurt because it will rely on a number of uncommitted votes, many from African states.

“They’re probably going to look at that and say, ‘where was Canada?’ ”

Hendin said there’s need for competent trainers “but more importantly, there’s a need for peacekeepers, peacemakers with competent skills” in Central African Republic, Mali and Darfur.

Trudeau was on the defensive as he wrapped up a two-day cabinet retreat, facing questions on a range of controversial files that are sure to dog his government as Parliament resumes next week.

Those included questions about the government’s slow response to Canadian victims of hurricane Irma — Trudeau was unapologetic, saying “better is always possible” — questions about proposed changes to restrict the ability of incorporated small businesses and professionals to shift income to lower their taxes; the public cost of his Christmas holiday on the Aga Khan’s private island and about his government’s recent difficulties in communication.