Though Valentine’s Day is not until Tuesday, expect progressives to profess their unbridled love for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to the United States Monday.
While it is not at all like social-media users to be uninformed, there are a few key details about Trudeau’s record that left-leaning keyboard warriors should keep in mind before waxing poetic about his hair, chiseled abs and/or policies.
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Trudeau is a proud supporter of the Keystone Pipeline. In January Trudeau told reporters he discussed Keystone twice with President Trump since the November election, remarking, “I’ve been on the record for many years supporting it because it leads to economic growth, and good jobs for Albertans.”
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Like Trump, Trudeau recently incited a wave of protests in his country. The prime minister’s decision to abandon his campaign pledge of implementing electoral reform drew protests across Canada just this past weekend. One CBC journalist tweeted a photo of protesters holding signs with messages like, “I didn’t vote for nice hair! Keep your promises!” and “Trudeau is a liar.”
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Despite his oft-expressed support of feminism, cameras caught Trudeau elbowing a female member of the parliament last May. Trudeau apologized, but faced “a storm of controversy” over the altercation. One lawmaker reacted by remarking, “I have never seen any member of the house act toward another member or members as he just did.”
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Among Canadians, Trump’s economic policies have higher approval ratings than Trudeau’s. A poll this month found 53 percent of Canadians approve of Trump’s economic policies, compared with only 43 percent for Trudeau.
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This is also true of Trump’s national security policies. The same poll found 51 percent of Canadians approve of Trump’s approach to national security, while only 39 percent approve of Trudeau’s.
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Trudeau’s approval rating currently sits at its lowest point since he took office. In January, one poll found it had dropped ten points since November alone.
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Trudeau is facing serious heat for alleged ethics breaches. One scandal involves “cash for access” concerns, where, as US News reports, “The prime minister and senior cabinet ministers had raised millions of dollars through private fundraisers, many of which had been attended by wealthy business people in private homes. Tickets had cost as much as $1,500.” Trudeau is also facing an ethics investigation and harsh criticism over his decision to vacation on billionaire Aga Khan’s private island.
