Trudeau Pulls a Biden*

Canada’s liberal prime minister should have stepped down earlier. The political turbulence in Canada is happening at what may be a bad time.

Does this scenario remind you of anything? Despite sinking poll numbers, a series of losses in by-elections, and strong pressure within the party, the leading politician insists that he is still the best one suited to lead his party into the next election. Just a few months before the intensive campaign phase begins, he finally yields to pressure from the public and his party and thus leaves the party little time to reconstitute itself.

Exactly. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pulled a Joe Biden in Canada — in other words, ignored until the very end that even his own party no longer sees him as the right candidate for the coming election. With their refusal to accept the obvious, Biden and Trudeau alike not only gave up the chance to step down under their own terms. They leave their nations with unnecessary chaos in a time of crisis.

Trudeau’s poll numbers and those of his Liberal Party have been in the basement for a while. The decision to hold new elections in 2021, two years ahead of schedule and in the middle of a global pandemic, proved to be a political and strategic error. Trudeau was able to achieve a close electoral victory, but the faster-than-usual rate of inflation, which the Canadian people blamed on the one-time liberal star, did the rest for Trudeau’s government.

Looming Tariff Conflict

At the latest, after the resignation of his long-time confidante and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in a disagreement over how to best prepare for the looming trade war with the U.S., it was clear that Trudeau was seen even by his own party as an economic risk; that is, ignoring the real threat of the tariffs Donald Trump has threatened to impose on the Canadian economy.

Now, the political vacuum, which opens up an unplanned interregnum at the wrong time, is the problem. Trump enters office in less than two weeks. It will take months until political stability is restored in Canada. Until then, Trump can think of a few more jokes about Trudeau — “Governor … of the Great State of Canada” — and look forward to “in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade.”

The former political star can at least reduce the mess that he is leaving for his — presumably conservative — successor by bringing him along to the negotiating table. Because Trudeau is a “lame duck” there, like Biden.

*Editor’s Note: This article is available in its original language with a paid subscription.