'Toxic liability': How Canada has fallen into a 'Trudeau trap'

The political landscape in Canada is increasingly fraught as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces mounting criticism and declining support, leading the UK-based magazine the Economist to describe the situation as a "Trudeau trap."

Driving the news

• Justin Trudeau’s once-glowing reputation is losing its lustre in Canada, and many believe his political reign is nearing its tumultuous end.
• His Liberal Party is seeing a rapid decline in popularity, and frustration is growing as his policies, including immigration, housing, and climate measures, fall short of public expectations.
• While his party has been in power for nearly a decade, Trudeau now faces internal dissent, with some calling for his resignation as Canada nears a national election within a year.
• Trudeau’s moral posturing on climate change and social issues, once an asset, now appears disconnected from the daily struggles of average Canadians. This has created a political vacuum that opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has capitalized on, promising to scrap the carbon tax and offer practical solutions, the Economist report said.

Why it matters

• As per the report in the Economist, Trudeau's election in 2015 marked the dawn of a modern, multicultural, climate-conscious Canada, providing a stark contrast to the political turbulence seen in other parts of the world. Trudeau's leadership, particularly in the face of a truculent Donald Trump in the US, seemed to offer a beacon of morality and stability.
• His government swiftly enacted welfare reforms, legalized marijuana, and welcomed refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war. His leadership shone brightest in international affairs, where he successfully renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the US and Mexico, maintaining critical economic ties. His administration also expanded social programs, including generous child-care payments that helped lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.
• However, Trudeau’s virtuous image and sweeping reforms have, over time, been overshadowed by practical failings on issues like immigration, housing, and the economy. Despite his efforts to make Canada more inclusive and progressive, the government’s inability to keep up with its growing population, along with rising living costs, has alienated large portions of the electorate.
• As Trudeau's reign nears its likely end, his transformation from a center-left hero to a divisive and struggling leader serves as a cautionary tale for politicians around the globe.

Illiberal approach

• “A feature of Mr Trudeau’s administration has been its illiberal approach to dissent," the Economist article said.
• Over nearly a decade in power, Trudeau’s government has increasingly used heavy-handed tactics to silence critics and dismiss opposition.
• His administration’s response to protests and public outcry has often been to brand dissenters as bigots or extremists, rather than engaging with the substantive issues at hand.
• This was starkly illustrated during the 2022 trucker protests, where Trudeau invoked emergency powers—rarely used in peacetime—to quash what he saw as an existential threat to his government, rather than a legitimate expression of public frustration.
• As per the Economist report, this illiberal streak has also surfaced in Trudeau's treatment of critics within his own party and among the public. Rather than addressing the tangible economic challenges faced by Canadians—soaring housing costs, rising debt, and wage stagnation—Trudeau has preferred to deflect criticism by painting detractors as out of touch or morally inferior.
• Even as support for his policies has crumbled, Trudeau’s focus remains on defending his government’s virtues, framing opposition as driven by misinformation or prejudice, rather than legitimate concerns. His reluctance to accept responsibility for policy failures and his instinct to suppress dissent have contributed to a deepening polarization in Canadian politics.

Deteriorating international standing

• According to the Economist report, Canada’s global influence has waned under Trudeau, further tarnishing his leadership image. His government failed to secure a seat on the UN Security Council in 2020, finishing behind Norway and Ireland.
• Meanwhile, Canada’s defense spending remains well below Nato’s 2% GDP target, standing at just 1.3%. This has drawn criticism from Nato allies and exacerbated concerns about Canada's ability to contribute meaningfully to international security, especially as global tensions rise.
• Relations with key global powers have also soured. Tensions with China and India have escalated, most recently over the alleged involvement of Indian diplomats in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia. Trudeau's accusations against India have further strained diplomatic ties, and opposition leader Poilievre has accused him of mishandling foreign relations.

What’s next

• With a national election on the horizon, Trudeau faces mounting pressure from within his own party.
• A letter is circulating among Liberal MPs calling for his resignation, and many within the party fear they are unprepared for the coming election.
• Three Liberal MPs—Wayne Long from New Brunswick, Alexandra Mendès from Quebec, and Sean Casey from Prince Edward Island—have publicly called for a change in leadership, a report in the Globe and Mail said.
• If Trudeau is ousted, the Liberal Party will need to quickly pivot and find a leader who can address the real concerns of the electorate—housing, affordability, and economic growth—without leaning on the virtue politics that have defined Trudeau’s tenure.

(With inputs from agencies)