Justin Trudeau Discusses Economic and Political Challenges on The Late Show

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s appearance on the American late-night television program, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, began on Monday evening with the customary light-hearted jokes about bacon and the Canadian propensity for apologizing. However, the conversation soon turned to more serious topics, as the host questioned Trudeau about the upcoming confidence vote in the Canadian House of Commons.

“People are suffering. People are having trouble paying for groceries, rent, and filling their tanks,” acknowledged Mr. Trudeau during his appearance on the CBS-aired show. The interview was recorded in New York City, where the Prime Minister is attending the United Nations General Assembly. Trudeau admitted to a sense of frustration among the populace, describing the period as “really difficult.” He pointed out that the housing crisis is “somewhat more acute” in Canada than in the United States. Although he noted that the Canadian macro economy is performing better than that of its southern neighbor, this is not reflected in everyday transactions for citizens.

Despite these challenges, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of advancing initiatives such as $10-a-day childcare, dental care, and pharmacare to provide free diabetes medication and prescription contraceptives.

Trudeau is expected to return to Ottawa by Wednesday, in time for a confidence motion that the Conservatives plan to introduce in hopes of toppling the minority government. “Sometimes people want change, but the reality is that I deeply believe in continuing to fight climate change and investing in people, continuing to be there to support them. And I will keep fighting,” he affirmed.

During the interview, Colbert raised the issue of ideologies such as fascism and xenophobia gaining ground globally, even noting that Trudeau’s opponent has been referred to as the “Canadian Trump”. Colbert asked why such ideologies are re-emerging in a country “as polite as Canada.” While Trudeau did not comment directly on the “Canadian Trump” label, he acknowledged that Canada is not without its flaws. He highlighted the lengthy struggle to establish a universal healthcare system and defended efforts to be a global leader in climate change initiatives.

“There is a big debate right now about the actual existence of dental care. We have provided it for 700,000 people across the country, and my opponent twists this by saying that dental care doesn’t even exist yet,” he remarked.

Earlier in September, Conservative health critic Stephen Ellis criticized the government for botching the dental care program, claiming that most Canadians do not qualify and that those who do may still face out-of-pocket expenses.

Colbert also inquired about issues straining Canada-U.S. relations, such as lumber tariffs, which the U.S. Department of Commerce nearly doubled in August. Trudeau replied that Americans are overpaying for lumber due to these tariffs. “We cross the border to buy cheaper medication. Is that okay with you?” Colbert questioned.

“We are happy to try to help you, but it would be much easier if you got universal healthcare coverage,” Trudeau responded, eliciting loud applause from the audience.