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In this op-ed, writer Darius Sadighi explores the policies and hypocrisies of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
While Donald Trump’s ascendancy to the presidency of the United States has caused outrage, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become an global icon for his seemingly progressive politics — and for his jawline, which has drawn comparisons to a Disney prince. The two politicians are light-years apart in style and on issues such as diversity, trade agreements, and the legalization of marijuana — but their actions agree on the fossil-fuel industry and climate change, and both support acts of war in the Middle East.
Trump may be an international embarrassment while Trudeau strikes yoga poses, but in reality they play for the same elite team.
Prime Minister Trudeau is often praised for his positions on social issues. For example, last week he introduced legislation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana and has been a long-time advocate of legalizing, taxing, and regulating marijuana. This position is seen as a positive step for Canada advancing drug-related health and safety, especially because legalizing marijuana is also necessary for combatting the racism of the criminal justice system.
In stark contrast to Trump, who, on tape, has described sexually assaulting women, Trudeau has garnered attention for identifying as a feminist, even telling the press in 2014 that all Liberal party candidates “need to be completely understanding that they will be expected to vote pro-choice on any bills.” Trudeau’s cabinet boasts equal gender representation, with 15 men and 15 women, which is a first in Canada.
It's too soon to tell the effects of the gender-inclusive budget Trudeau proposed in March and, despite his inclusionary cabinet, he has come under fire from organizations like Oxfam Canada, whose annual Feminist Scorecard plans to monitor “government's action to deliver on its feminist agenda," both at home and abroad. It said that beyond representation in the upper rungs of government Trudeau's feminist rhetoric has not led to meaningful action by Canada's government, and advised the prime minister to prepare a "comprehensive national gender equality strategy, policy, and action plan." A severe gender pay gap persists in Canada. And despite the leader's avowed support for indigenous peoples, a government inquiry has brought little justice for the estimated 4,000 indigenous women who have reportedly been murdered or have disappeared over the past three decades. Canada also faces an epidemic of incarcerated indigenous women.
This has led many to accuse Trudeau of supporting a privileged “white feminism,” rather than promoting policies that address the historical roots of, and connection between, racism and misogyny. This is not a departure from Trudeau’s brand of personal politics: consider his arguably appropriative arm tattoo. It's Haida art, a raven symbol created by indigenous people with roots that trace back 14,000 years in British Columbia, whose support for Trudeau has turned to offense at his government's policies. He also did not ask for permission from the artist, who, like all Haida considers tattooing sacred. He “presents himself as an ally . . . with our ink on his body," Haida Delvina Lawrence told Maclean's. "We feel he’s stabbed us in the back."
Another troubling stance is Trudeau’s public call to accept Syrian refugees while supporting the continued intervention that is destabilizing Syria in the first place. After Trump’s initial “immigration ban” indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from entering the United States, Trudeau took to Twitter to assure refugees that they were welcome in Canada. “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength," he wrote. But this month, Trudeau announced that Canada stood in support of the U.S. missile strike on Syria, which he called "limited and focused action” against the Assad regime, which is killing its citizens. Though the weapons strike was directed at a military airbase, not civilians, Trudeau still showed support for the U.S. bombing the homeland of the same refugees he so openly welcomed. Though he added that his country will remain focused on its military mission in Iraq, Canadian planes are still present in Syria's skies.
The real danger of Trudeau comes with his support for the fossil-fuel industry and unwillingness to combat climate change. He's approved a pipeline expansion across Canada and even a liquified natural-gas project near one of British Columbia's greatest salmon breeding grounds and against the wishes of First Nations tribes like the Haida, Maclean's reported. In an article for The Guardian this week, environmentalist and journalist Bill McKibben points out that there is a politician behind Trudeau's pretty face, and argues that he's reading off the laundry list of acceptable talking points while “digging up more carbon and selling it to people to burn” and “pushing for new pipelines through Canada and the U.S.”
Trump is credited with unmasking the American political system. If this is the case, then Canada is putting a newer, younger mask on its political system. He may be handsome, but he still comes with the same contradictions about war, support for the fossil-fuel industry, and offers the same tired rhetoric of inclusion and feminism while women of color endure worsening conditions. Trudeau, like Trump, is unwilling to step beyond platitudes and slogans.
Related: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Not Shaking Hands With Donald Trump Is Already a Meme
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