Some have considered Justin Trudeau the antithesis of Stephen Harper, with his dashing charm and famous last name. His competence with social media and engagement with youth have certainly marked him as a stark contrast to Harper, but should Canadians be so easily wooed by his superficial features? No, let substance define who Justin Trudeau really is.
For starters, he has admitted to smoking marijuana — no doubt an attempt to attract the support of young Canadians. While the legalization of marijuana has consistently been part of the NDP’s advocacy, Trudeau himself has not been so consistent in his position. In an interview recorded in January 2012, Trudeau scowled at the use of pot for its capacity to “disconnect” the user. In 2009, he also voted for harsher penalties for users.
Perhaps this is demonstrative of Trudeau’s adaptability; the Liberal party suffered a new low in the federal election of 2011, while the NDP became the federal opposition for the first time in Canadian history. Naturally, any Liberal leader will scavenge for bits and pieces of support in any way possible to redeem the Liberal party’s power.
More importantly, Trudeau is attempting to appear transparent. The media and political opposition have been harsh critics of the Harper government’s transparency in the past. Trudeau’s move is an attempt at distinguishing himself from Harper in a way that catches the media’s attention.
Is moving left on a social issue the best card Trudeau can play? He claims that he will not rush into publicly disclosing a platform. The Conservatives have discarded this as indecisiveness. In all fairness, 2013 is not an election year; parties do not typically reveal their stances on major issues until an election cycle begins.
What Trudeau has been consistent on is his readiness and determination to support the “middle class.” However, the “middle class” is a term commonly employed by politicians for its tactical neutrality and ambiguity. The boundaries of the “middle class” are obscure enough in realms outside of the scholarly world that anyone with a bit of ego can consider himself or herself to be a part of it. Hence, the term is not very meaningful.
Trudeau is likely throwing it around to dissuade critics from suggesting that he stands for no one.
During the Liberal leadership race, Trudeau expressed interest in producing a platform through an inclusive bottom-up exercise. This included launching a feature on his website allowing the public to discuss and rate concerns; however, the most “liked” issue has around 700 views — hardly the bottom-up exercise he preached. Furthermore, whether or not these discussions will influence policy is uncertain.
Trudeau’s forthcoming platform must not shy away from the issue of Senate reform. With the recent scandals concerning Conservative senators, discussions on the necessity of the Upper House have been revived. While Harper has remained silent on how he seeks to address these scandals within the government, Trudeau has an opportunity to shine with reform rhetoric.
Indeed, Trudeau has shown initiative in the change toward Senate transparency. For instance, Liberal senators were encouraged to post hospitality and travel expenses online. In addition, Trudeau has considered limiting the terms of senators to 12 years.
Alongside potential Upper House reforms, Trudeau has envisioned a plan aimed at improving Canada’s representative democracy. The plan includes loosening party discipline so that backbenchers can vote for their constituencies rather than for their party. In addition, it includes limiting prorogation, introducing preferential ballot voting and strengthening third-party oversight by officers of Parliament.
While his vision for Canada is not written down in a platform, he does have a vision. The question is whether his vision will come to fruition. The fact is that since Trudeau has become leader, the Liberals have consistently topped the Conservatives in opinion polls. Although polls do not guarantee election victories, the odds are in his favour.
Canada has no need for “Trudeaumania 2.0.” Anything mania-related is suitable for entertainers, not public servants. In fact, the legacy of the mania around Pierre Trudeau has masked many of his political failures. What Canada needs is a strong leader with solid substance. Justin Trudeau has only shown potential through character and vision. Mania will only amplify his character and distract Canadians from the challenges they must confront.
Frank Weng is a fourth year student studying political science and history.
