The Trudeau government wants to return to its roots

So low in the polls, the Trudeau government is “turning around [ses] Roots” this winter. The prime minister and his ministers will establish their key action priorities during a three-day retreat in Montreal.

At the heart of the plan: efforts to “support the middle class.” Ministers specifically discuss measures to reduce the cost of living, build more houses and improve the health system.

The cabinet's retirement comes at a time when the immigration crisis has plagued the government. Last Wednesday, Quebec Premier François Legault urged the Canadian prime minister to limit the influx of asylum seekers or Quebec would reach its “breaking point.”

“Mr. Legault's letter was very creative and very effective. Now, it is up to us to find common solutions,” announced Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez at the end of the first evening of the ministerial retreat on Sunday evening.

“We have to look at the pressures from foreign students and temporary workers… and we agree [sur le fait] It's a challenge and we're going to solve it together,” he told reporters.

Earlier this week, Justin Trudeau called on higher education institutions and businesses to find housing solutions for these temporary residents. The same goes for industries that report significant demand for temporary workers.

Cost of living and housing issues are at the forefront of 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 the latest Abacus poll, Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives now lead the Liberals by 17 points. At the same time, the same poll also revealed the Trudeau government's approval rating has fallen since the Liberals were elected in 2015.

Donald Trump Back?

With the possible return of former US President Donald Trump to the White House and the upcoming presidential election, discussions on Canada-US relations will be high 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 “no” to a second Trump presidency [serait] Not easy.” Justin Trudeau served as Canadian prime minister throughout the former president's first four-year term, during which relations were strained at times.

“Do they want to be a state that is hopeful and future-proof? Or will they choose a throwback, a nostalgia for a time that never existed, a populism that reflects a lot of anxiety and anger that people feel without necessarily offering solutions?” asked Mr. Trudeau during a discussion at Montreal's Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce earlier this week. introduced.

“We are witnessing a democratic transition, a decline in democratic values ​​across the world and at many levels,” he added.

Second rest

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

At the end of this retreat, the Prime Minister promised to access the lives of young people affected by rising house prices without announcing concrete measures.

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

Minister LeBlanc and several colleagues announced a national summit to combat auto theft, including the cross-border shipment of stolen vehicles.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not respond to reporters' questions when reached Sunday evening. “It's nice to see you at my place,” he simply told reporters.

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

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