The Trudeau government wants to return to its roots

At the lowest of the polls, the Trudeau government is proposing a “return [ses] Roots” this winter. The Prime Minister and his ministers will set out their top operational priorities during a three-day retreat in Montreal.

At the heart of the program: “middle class support” efforts. Ministers will mainly discuss ways to reduce the cost of living, build more houses and improve the health system.

The resignation of the cabinet also comes at a time when the immigration issue is weighing heavily on the government. Last Wednesday, Quebec Premier Francois Legault urged the Canadian prime minister to stem the flow of refugees or Quebec would reach a “breaking point.”

“We found Mr. Legault's letter very constructive and very helpful. Now, it's up to us to find common solutions,” Transport Minister Pablo Rodríguez announced Sunday evening at the end of the first evening of the ministerial retreat.

“We have to look at the pressures from foreign students and temporary workers… we agree [sur le fait] It is a challenge and we are going to tackle it together,” he added, speaking to reporters.

Earlier this week, Justin Trudeau invited higher education institutions and businesses to find housing solutions for these temporary residents. The same goes for industries that claim to have a significant need for temporary workers.

Cost of living and housing issues will top Canadians' concerns in 2023, according to several national polling firms. However, two in three Canadians believe the federal government is doing a “poor” or “very poor” job of implementing policies aimed at making housing more affordable in Canada, according to a Nanos poll released earlier this year.

According to a recent Abacus poll, Pierre Poilivre's Conservatives now lead the Liberals by 17 points. At the same time, the same poll also revealed approval of the Trudeau government is falling, with disapproval now at its highest level since the Liberals were elected in 2015.

Donald Trump's comeback?

With the presidential election likely to return former US President Donald Trump to the White House, discussions on relations between Canada and the United States will be on the agenda.

Last week, Donald Trump won the Iowa Republican caucus by a landslide with 51 percent of the vote.

Already, the Prime Minister has confirmed that a second Trump presidency is unlikely [serait] Not easy.” Justin Trudeau served as Canada's prime minister during the former president's first four-year term, during which relations were sometimes strained.

“Do they want to be a state that is hopeful and committed to the future? Or will they choose throwback, nostalgia for a bygone era, a populism that reflects the anxiety and rage people feel without offering solutions? » launched Mr. Trudeau at a debate at the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal earlier this week.

“We are seeing democratic change, the decline of democratic values ​​globally and at many levels,” he added.

Second Retirement

The ministerial retreat that began in Montreal is not the first to focus on the cost of living and housing crisis. These are the same questions that were the “number one priority” of last summer's final retreat in Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island.

At the end of this retreat, the Prime Minister promised to make life accessible to young people affected by rising house prices, but did not announce concrete measures.

“We have made significant progress on these issues. The Minister of Housing and other ministers have worked with their provincial and municipal counterparts to implement concrete measures that will have a positive impact on affordability issues,” Public Safety Minister Dominique LeBlanc said Sunday night.

Minister LeBlanc and a few colleagues also announced a national summit to combat vehicle theft, which includes transporting stolen vehicles across borders.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not respond to questions from reporters after his arrival on Sunday evening. “It's great to see you in my place,” he told reporters.

All federal parties will hold caucus meetings before parliament resumes on January 29.

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