Justin Trudeau under pressure as his party loses Montreal election
GuardianSEP 2024
Canada: Trudeau Resigns as Prime Minister
Above: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Canada on Jan. 6, 2025. Image copyright: Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty images
The Spin
Left narrative
Despite a challenging political landscape, Trudeau's legacy shines with remarkable achievements — halving child poverty, legalizing marijuana, advancing Indigenous reconciliation, and deftly navigating NAFTA negotiations with Trump. His government's swift COVID response and unwavering commitment to progressive values made Canada a beacon of pluralism and liberalism. Like Obama, he may be succeeded by his opposite, but his transformative impact endures.
Right narrative
From "shining hope" to tarnished legacy, Trudeau's nine-year reign has left Canada reeling. Under his leadership, poverty has soared with millions in survival mode, housing dreams have crumbled, and conditions have worsened. His diplomatic missteps have alienated allies worldwide, while his economic policies have driven Canada into recession. Through it all, his leadership failures were masked by his rhetoric and demeanor.