# How's Trudeau doing, Canada? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 13, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019 "2016-02-13T13:56:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/343 "2020-02-02T00:43:41Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > There is a great column in Macleans.ca this week about ten things the CPC needs to do to win an election. It’s spot on. They won’t happen. I just read it, and I agree. I also agree with you that it won’t happen. The issue is that the CPoC base won’t choose someone that does those things. It is a fascinating problem. To win nationally requires someone who will have a hard time winning the leadership in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/344 "2020-02-02T02:51:18Z")
Most of those ten things are pretty doable. These are possible things. It’s just that the CPC has no leaders. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/345 "2020-02-07T18:36:11Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Our economy is failing even while the global economy is roaring along. When the inevitable global slowdown hits, we are going to be in a world of trouble. I hope this latest news does not make anyone sad, since we apparently are not going down the toilet. [Canada’s job market blows past forecasts in January, unemployment rate falls](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canadas-job-market-blows-past-forecasts-in-january-unemployment-rate/) > [@](#): > > Canada’s labour market generated close to double the number of jobs as expected in January as companies ramped up hiring for full-time positions and in goods-producing industries. I’m sure someone can find some terrible news in the article somewhere though. Alberta lost some part-time positions, and since Alberta is the only thing that counts in the country, that probably gives some solace to the doom and gloom crowd. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/346 "2020-02-08T18:06:24Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Well, it turns out that in the last jobs report the U.S created 266,000 jobs, while Canada lost 71,000 jobs, with 10% of the population. Worst job losses since 2008, following on a series of other poor job reports. Canada’s unemployment rate is now 2.4% higher than the U.S.'s. The unemployment rate fell in December, and fell again in January. It is lower now than at any point during the Harper government; it has been dropping for three and a half years. Picking out one month and ignoring the overall trend is just silly. When the world economy is doing well, Canada’s does well. When it doesn’t, Canada’s doesn’t. The government of the day doesn’t make a hell of a lot of difference. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/347 "2020-02-17T01:36:13Z")
Trudeau has been in the papers again, being criticized for his response to the railways being blocked by protestors. Cancelled his vacation. Said it’s up to police discretion to deal with the problem. The right to protest is important. And police and politics should be as separate as possible. But I felt uneasy when folks were allowed to block the highways around Toronto over an obscure foreign dispute, and I don’t think continuing to block rail lines is reasonable given its importance to our country. No one wants a repeat of some previous crises where responses were excessive. But it is wrong to hold others hostage over a mild to moderate grievance. I see pipelines as necessary and think real and reasonable consultation with stakeholders important. The original consultations were slipshod. But it still has to be possible for Canadians to do business, and sometimes that means enforcing the law, hopefully with compassion and fairness, if diplomatic talks are not progressing. Much reconciliation work may remain, but this simply is not the avenue for change. It causes a degree of ill will. It sets a poor precedent and regrettable example. I don’t know the answers, but I know this isn’t the way they should be found. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/348 "2020-02-17T03:10:01Z")
We live in a country where First Nations people can have all the rights they want until they start interfering with the potential profits of the oil industry at which time the RCMP will deploy in force, prepared to murder. Again, if Gord Downie was alive to write a song about this, any mentions of Trudeau would not be complimentary. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/349 "2020-02-17T04:24:03Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > We live in a country where First Nations people can have all the rights they want until they start interfering with the potential profits of the oil industry at which time the RCMP will deploy in force, prepared to murder. … Wow. Only the first five words of this response are true. That’s some seriously misunderstood hyperbole right there. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/350 "2020-03-19T21:34:23Z")
Canada seems able to set aside partisan bickering during crises. Coronavirus is a big health and economic challenge for any government. So how has Trudeau done? So far, I would say fairly well. I think he listened to Canadian experts and largely took necessary steps. Yes, hospitals are still underresourced and the economy is postponed. But better to be big as long as things are dialed back as soon as reasonable. We are lucky to have had time to observe other places and to have had some local experience with epidemics. Still, many challenges lay ahead. Do you folks think he has done okay thus far? Despite delays, decentralized messaging, so many known and unknown concerns? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/351 "2020-03-19T22:11:17Z")
I’m a Conservative: no surprise. Trudeau, and his Liberals have handled this extremely well. I have zero complaints. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/352 "2020-04-06T15:59:13Z")
He’s got a beard now. Sort of a goatee style ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/353 "2020-04-06T16:09:38Z")
Its to distance him from his previous image which was a cultivated ascendant, devil-may-care reincarnation of PET persona, but became a “fun-time” irresponsible rich-frat-boy persona after all the black face photos came out. The goatee is to remind people that he isn’t a young kid anymore, but a responsible adult. Trudeau is someone who works tirelessly on public relations and image. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/354 "2020-04-06T17:22:47Z")
All Canadian governments focus on perception as much as policy. I’d be 0.3% happier if I never heard the phrase “we’re going to travel the country to talk to the people and get their opinions about subject X” on any mildly controversial hot potato like marijuana, gun control or whatever else. But Trudeau has done well on the coronavirus file apart from the curious and serious overreach in grabbing power for long periods of time, instantly dialed back. He has been both tough and diplomatic with the US. He has emphasized the seriousness and offered somewhat reasonable solutions. Ford has also benefited from these rare displays of maturity. But, as I have said elsewhere, it is easy to take bold steps and tougher to dial them back quickly. I hope Trudeau does this well, for the sake of all Canadians. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/355 "2020-04-11T18:29:17Z")
Viral pandemics are a funny sort of crisis. Hard to predict. Hard to quantify. An enormous potential for harm and hysteria that spooks the markets and spooks the citizenry. The Chinese reportedly use the expression “copying homework” (in a somewhat condescending way) to refer to countries that mimic Chinese methods. These might include physical distancing, uses of technology or travel restrictions. Presumably this does not include wet markets or untraditional foodstuffs. Given reported successes, a lot of countries implemented varying degrees of social distancing at different times. Obviously, this can significantly influence local and global economies. Given enormous uncertainty, and wanting to be cautious, I would say Trudeau has done a fairly good job on this difficult file. Doug Ford has also been fairly sensible. I’m not a big fan of the phrase “leaders that we need right now”. People come together during crises, and other governments eventually are doing similar things. Copying homework. They don’t know what to do, and listening to scientists for a change is a better option than others. But they need a game plan for getting back to normal, even if the virus determines the timeline. The Canadian and Ontario governments were initially slow but acted big and acted quickly. People have generally been accepting. The Opposition has been almost invisible, except during the Trudeau overreach. However, the hard parts have not been done. I’m not even sure they have been addressed. How will preparedness and procurement change? How will taxes and social structures? How will things return to normal? Not long ago, the railways were shut down by protesters and the oil patch was the main economic problem. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/356 "2020-04-11T20:56:37Z")
I live in the boonies but I support the gas tax. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/357 "2020-04-12T03:54:22Z")
That’s a drop in the newly enlarged bucket. Gotta pay for the roads, city public transport and climate change somehow. They’ll have to get more serious about evaders and creative multinationals. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/358 "2020-04-12T03:55:22Z")
My experience with northern oceans is limited but “hot sun” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/359 "2020-04-12T05:49:40Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > My experience with northern oceans is limited but “hot sun” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Pics [Lower James Bay James Bay Photographs](http://my.tbaytel.net/culpeper/LowerJamesBayPicsJamesBay.html) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/360 "2020-04-21T00:11:42Z")
A terrible tragedy in peaceful Nova Scotia. So NOW is the time to finally introduce reasonable gun control. As always. Enough cross-country consultation. I get that some people like to hunt and own weapons. These should be reasonably chosen to make hunting challenging and misuse as rare as possible. I hope Trudeau goes full New Zealand here. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/361 "2020-04-21T02:38:56Z")
If he does, be prepared for Western alienation to go through the roof, and for separatist sentiment to reach an all-time high in the west. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019/362 "2020-04-21T02:54:06Z")
Well, how do you suggest he react to the biggest shooting in Canadian history? I know my share of hunters and plenty of military types who I suspect are gun enthusiasts. I love eating meat and while I would never hunt, it can often be justified. But in my opinion, no one needs automatic weapons to hunt. I realize in a lot of Canadian crimes the guns supposedly come from elsewhere and most Canadian gun owners are law abiding. I don’t see how a registry is impossible or could cost a billion (!) clams. I don’t expect everyone to share my opinion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-trudeau-doing-canada/746019.md?page=19)