With a U.S. presidential race high in plot twists, Liberal cabinet ministers attending a retreat in Halifax have spoken about whether they should consider some of the strategies being used.
Asked by reporters what he’s drawing from the race and how it impacts his own messaging and political future, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the “big lesson” is the need to focus on things Canadians are concerned about, such as affordable child care or a national school food program.
The Liberals are looking at avenues to improve their political fortunes 14 months away from the next scheduled election.
The Conservative party under leader Pierre Poilievre has carved a sizeable lead over the Liberals in the polls and won a long-held Liberal stronghold in the June byelection in Toronto.
While the byelection loss caused a shockwave, Trudeau said he would stay on as leader and there’s been little public disagreement from within Liberal ranks.
With the Democrats in the United States changing their candidate, however, several cabinet ministers were asked whether they should consider a similar move.
The U.S. election has garnered much attention with its dramatic turns of events, from the attempted assassination of former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump, to U.S. President Joe Biden being replaced on the ticket by his vice president, Kamala Harris.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Trudeau should “absolutely not” be replaced when asked about the U.S. developments. “All of us here have tremendous confidence in the prime minister,” she said on the sidelines of the cabinet retreat Aug. 26.
“I think sometimes we borrow a little too much in our political rhetoric from the U.S.,” said Immigration Minister Marc Miller when answering a question about the U.S. elections. Miller also threw his support behind Trudeau.
Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault, addressing reporters alongside Miller and Housing Minister Sean Fraser, spoke of toning down the rhetoric and said Poilievre’s criticism of Fraser over the summer has been “just weird.”
The Liberal Party is more closely aligned with the Democrats in the United States, but Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters on Aug. 26 she remains in contact with all sides before the U.S. election in November, including the Biden administration, the Harris team, and Republicans.
Joly did not comment further on the presidential race and the switching of the Democrats’ candidate, saying Canada remains committed to having a good working relationship with any future U.S. administration.
“When it comes to the U.S., we’re following very, very closely,” she said. “Of course, we’re following the dynamics on both sides. The race is very tight, and that’s the only comment that I will make on what’s happening in the U.S.”
Joly also said Trudeau can count on her “full support.”
