Justin Trudeau makes all the "right" moves on Senate reform, energy policy, and marijuana

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has learned that a little flair can take you a long way in politics.

      This morning's move to expel all 32 Liberal senators from caucus has taken Ottawa by surprise and put him at the forefront of reforming the upper chamber.

      Trudeau has put Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the defensive by challenging him to do the same.

      It shows once again that the public can expect the unexpected from the Liberal leader.

      He isn't confined by the same hidebound thinking of the previous generation of political leaders.

      While NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Harper nattered about abolishing the Senate—a near-impossibility, given the difficulty of amending the constitution—Trudeau showed he was a man of action.

      I wonder if he took the idea from this weekend's Cross Country Checkup show on CBC Radio.

      Some callers to host Rex Murphy suggested eliminating party affiliation. No doubt some in the Liberal braintrust were listening.

      This isn't the first time that Trudeau has grabbed the limelight by doing something unorthodox.

      He donned boxing gloves against Sen. Patrick Brazeau to raise money for charity, whipping the then-Conservative's ass.

      Trudeau also proposed legalizing marijuana, upping his street cred with libertarian-minded voters as well as those who want easier access to cannabis for medical reasons.

      This made the federal New Democrats look like nervous nellies when they didn't follow suit.

      Trudeau supported a Chinese government–owned energy company's takeover of Nexen and endorsed the Keystone XL pipeline.

      These moves again set him apart from the New Democrats by giving him a more pro-business sheen.

      It's clear that Trudeau is calibrating his messages to mop up votes on the right and the left.

      He's positioned himself to be wild enough to appeal to the youth. But he's also safe enough not to scare big corporations or the right wingers who dominate political discourse in the mainstream media.

      That's usually a path to victory in Canada, a fairly conservative country that doesn't like to view itself this way.

      Comments

      7 Comments

      janalia

      Jan 29, 2014 at 10:25am

      I think many who support legalizing marijuana would object fervently to being associated with libertarians...

      gordon

      Jan 29, 2014 at 11:38am

      This has a very nice sound about it but one has to wonder how it will impact fundraisng as well as on the ground support for the Liberal Party

      Jimmy Sinclair

      Jan 29, 2014 at 12:00pm

      Though he may , the Harper machine is cooling its jets for the time being.
      When you start to smell sulphur you know the devil himself is awake and ready to tear apart the opposition.
      The usually start their campaign 18 months before the election.
      Now Justin has shown that he can't be trodden over, but a megalomaniac like Harper just can't believe that there are people smarter than he is.
      If Mulcair was smart and not petty he would join forces with Justin and secure the Minsiter of Justice portfolio for the duration of there joint tenures in power.
      As the Chinese proverb goes Mr. Harper, May you live in interesting times.....

      Amused and Amazed

      Jan 29, 2014 at 1:18pm

      Good for him - it is time to shake things up a bit and Harper needs to go. We are Canadians, not Americans!!! The conservatives will launch an attack against Trudeau because they can only fight dirty - like a hockey player on the losing team. I have never voted Liberal but I am more likely to vote for them now . . . definitely won't be voting for Harper.

      Trudeau is young, vibrant and exactly what this country needs. Unfortunately big business and the older generation will be leary of him but we really need someone who stands on their own two feet - and does things that should be done, not just talked about.

      Can't wait to see how this heats up. I am sure there are some upset and confused people in Ottawa today!!!

      Jimmy Sinclair

      Jan 29, 2014 at 1:25pm

      The Harper machine is cooling its jets for the time being.
      When you start to smell sulphur you know the devil himself is awake and ready to tear apart the opposition.
      The usually start their campaign 18 months before the election.
      Now Justin has shown that he can't be trodden over, but a megalomaniac like Harper just can't believe that there are people smarter than he is.
      If Mulcair was smart and not petty he would join forces with Justin and secure the Minister of Justice portfolio for the duration of their joint tenures in power.
      As the Chinese proverb goes Mr. Harper, May you live in interesting times.....

      DavidH

      Jan 29, 2014 at 1:48pm

      The Harperites are really screwed on this one. Yes, the immediate reaction was predictable (Trudeau is trying to build cover in advance of the auditor's report), but the usual trash-mob won't work this time. Because Harper himself is a control freak, and the idea of releasing people from his direct (caucus) control will probably cause him to have a stroke.

      He can't do it, he won't do it, and his only defense is the predictable and tiresome attack ad.

      The reality is that senators should never, ever been appointed on party lines. To suggest otherwise is fundamentally cynical and dishonest. Trudeau is right, and nothing Harper blurts or blusters will change that.

      Check(mate?).

      scrubthescumaway

      Jan 29, 2014 at 9:42pm

      I'm going to donate at least 100.00 to Justin Trudeau campaign for Prime Minister of Canada... so I can see Harper and his clapping seals turf out on the streets where they belong.. Justice Trudeau or Justin Trudeau 2015