Justin Trudeau’s quote of the day: “I don’t read the paper and I don’t watch the news. I figure if something important happens, someone will tell me” and his disengagement from politics
justin trudeau Having lived under public scrutiny all his life, he has maintained a detached attitude, which was more evident than ever after he resigned as Canada’s prime minister and retired from politics. Although he was frequently involved in public life, he rarely commented on political issues. It might take people back to who he was when he entered politics; a young man living in the shadow of his father, Pierre Trudeau. After his death in 2000, Justin gave a dramatic televised eulogy at his father’s state funeral, ending with “I love you, Dad” before resting his head on his father’s flag-draped casket. There were immediate rumors about Trudeau Jr. entering politics.In 2001, Justin Trudeau admitted or pretended to be ignorant of current events in an article he wrote for The Globe and Mail. “I don’t read newspapers and I don’t watch the news,” he wrote. “I figured if something important happened, someone would tell me.”
The rise and fall of Justin Trudeau
When Trudeau entered politics, comparisons to his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, were inevitable. Pierre Trudeau dominated Canadian politics from the late 1960s to the early 1980s and became a symbol of Canadian federalism and constitutional reform. Not only did Justin inherit his father’s famous last name, he also inherited the ability to connect with audiences through compelling public speaking and an approachable personality. Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher and was involved in youth and charity activities. Although critics criticized him for being inexperienced and well-known primarily because of his last name, Trudeau steadily built his political credentials after winning a seat in parliament in 2008.His decisive breakthrough came in 2013, when he became leader of the Liberal Party. At the time, the Liberal Party was in crisis. The party suffered its worst-ever defeat in the 2011 election, finishing third behind the Conservatives and New Democrats. Many political observers believe it will take years for the Liberals to recover. Yet Trudeau breathed life into the party almost immediately. He has attracted thousands of new members, reinvigorated fundraising and delivered an optimistic message that contrasts with what he portrays as the more cautious and security-focused politics of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.The 2015 federal election became Trudeau’s best political moment. He campaigned on the slogan “real change,” promising middle-class tax reform, more open government, massive investments in infrastructure, action on climate change and a more welcoming approach to immigration. He also promised that 2015 would be Canada’s last first-past-the-post election system, raising expectations for democratic reform. Most notably, he led the Liberals from third place in Parliament to majority government—one of the greatest electoral reversals in Canadian history.Trudeau won widespread attention from the international community during his early years in office. He appointed Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet, and in response to a reporter’s question about why he chose an equal number of men and women, he said: “Because it’s 2015.” The words quickly became emblematic of his commitment to gender equality. His government welcomed tens of thousands of Syrian refugees, reinforced Canada’s image as a welcoming country, and championed diversity and multiculturalism. Internationally, Trudeau has cultivated an image of Canada as a progressive middle power committed to climate action, international cooperation and liberal democratic values.The first major blow suffered by Trudeau occurred in 2019 with the SNC-Lavalin incident. There are allegations that senior officials in Trudeau’s office pressured Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to intervene in criminal prosecutions involving engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet, testified before parliament and described inappropriate political pressure. The controversy dominated national headlines, led to cabinet resignations and led the federal ethics commissioner to conclude that Trudeau was trying to improperly influence the attorney general. For a leader who campaigned on clean and accountable government, the scandal has seriously damaged his credibility.The COVID-19 pandemic briefly changed Trudeau’s political fortunes. His government has introduced unprecedented emergency measures, including an income support program for workers and businesses affected by the lockdown. Initially, many Canadians supported the government’s response, and Trudeau’s approval ratings improved.In 2022, the Conservative Party elected a new leader, Pierre Poilievre. Pliyev does not care about the politics of politeness; he only cares about politics. He spent two years blasting Trudeau as an out-of-touch elitist who was ruining the country. By 2024, the public has been completely screwed by Trudeau. The Liberals began losing elections in areas they had held for decades. Then, at the end of 2024, his top ally and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned. His own party members began to secretly attack him. In 2025, he announced his resignation and gradually retired from politics.
