Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs Individuals to know Canada has extra to supply than simply “maple syrup and mountains.”
Throughout a Monday evening look on The Late Present with Stephen Colbert, the Canadian political chief bought laughs from the viewers as he tried to set Canada aside from the U.S. and boast about what makes the northern nation profitable on the world stage.
There have been additionally a number of extra sombre moments from Trudeau’s look, with the prime minister noting it’s a “powerful time” for a lot of Canadians. A part of the evening’s dialog centered on far-right nationalism and rising political division amongst individuals in each Canada and the U.S.
Colbert mentioned Trudeau’s foremost political opponent, Conservative Celebration of Canada Chief Pierre Poilievre, has been referred to as “the Trump of Canada.”
In response, Trudeau mentioned Canada will not be exempt from extremist rhetoric or xenophobia. He didn’t cite any particular examples.
“We’re not some magical place of unicorns and rainbows on a regular basis,” he mentioned. “The issues that we’ve managed to do, we’ve needed to work actually, actually arduous at.”
Trudeau talked about common well being care, ongoing efforts in opposition to local weather change and dental take care of low-income Canadians as insurance policies that “we’ve got to combat for” frequently.
“There’s a giant argument proper now about whether or not dental care even exists,” Trudeau mentioned. “We’ve delivered it to 700,000 individuals throughout the nation and my opponent is gaslighting us and saying, ‘Dental care doesn’t even exist but.’”
Earlier this month, Conservative MP Stephen Ellis mentioned the federal government has failed within the supply of sponsored dental care and claimed most Canadians don’t qualify for protection or should nonetheless pay out of pocket for companies.
The Canada Dental Care Plan is accepting functions from individuals over the age of 65, for kids beneath the age of 18 and people who obtain the Incapacity Tax Credit score. Candidates should be confirmed, after which will likely be enrolled with Solar Life which manages the means-tested plan, which is open to these whose adjusted household internet revenue is lower than $90,000 per yr and who don’t have entry to dental care packages by way of employer plans, non-public protection, or scholar or pension advantages.
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Extra eligibility phases will roll out subsequent yr.
Trudeau’s look comes as he’s set to face a vote on a non-confidence movement within the Home of Commons, put ahead by the Conservatives on Tuesday and coming to a vote on Wednesday. If the vote is misplaced, Canada may see a snap election, however the NDP and Bloc Quebecois have indicated they are going to help the Liberals in defeating the movement.
“It’s a extremely powerful time for individuals in Canada proper now,” Trudeau mentioned. “Individuals are hurting. Individuals are having bother paying for groceries, paying for hire, filling up the tank.”
“Individuals are annoyed and the concept that perhaps they need an election now’s one thing that my opponents try to financial institution on as a result of persons are taking loads out on me, for comprehensible causes,” he mentioned. “I’ve been right here, and I’ve been steering us by way of all this stuff and persons are typically change.”
The prime minister mentioned he’ll “hold preventing” to help Canadians and added that “Canada’s the very best nation on the planet.”
Trudeau described the nation’s “lovely” wilderness and surroundings, however maintained “Canada is in regards to the individuals.”
“It’s a spread of individuals from each attainable background who come collectively and — slightly completely different from the melting pot in the US the place everybody will get to be American — we attempt to have a good time variations, and folks hold their cultures and hold their languages.”
Colbert, whereas noting that Canada is America’s “closest ally,” requested Trudeau what the 2 nations combat about.
The prime minister mentioned there are a lot of “small points that matter” between each nations, however claimed the U.S. pays an excessive amount of in tariffs on softwood lumber.
This summer time, the U.S. introduced a 14.54 per cent responsibility charge on Canadian softwood lumber imports — a rise from the previous 8.05 per cent tariff.
Colbert half-joked that many Individuals additionally cross the U.S.-Canada border to purchase cheaper medicine outdoors of the nation.
“We’re completely satisfied to attempt to show you how to out, however it will be loads simpler in case you guys had common well being care,” Trudeau mentioned, incomes cheers from the in-studio viewers.
In lighter moments from Trudeau’s Late Present look, he joked Canadians, regardless of the stereotype for at all times saying “sorry,” wouldn’t apologize for the nominal variations between bacon and again bacon (or as Individuals name it, Canadian bacon).
Trudeau has been Canada’s prime minister since 2015. This week, he travelled to New York Metropolis forward of the 79th United Nations Common Meeting. This yr marks the UN’s first-ever Summit of the Future, which gathers world leaders to debate themes together with peace and safety, sustainable improvement, local weather change and human rights.
Trudeau mentioned attending the Common Meeting makes him really feel each extra and fewer hopeful in regards to the future.
“You need to be essentially hopeful on this job, and significantly on this time the place challenges are monumental,” he mentioned of politicians. “However in case you don’t imagine you possibly can truly work with others and make a optimistic distinction, then you definitely’re not in the suitable line of labor.”
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‘The Late Present With Stephen Colbert’ airs on World at 11:30 p.m. ET on weeknights.
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