Justin Trudeau’s Milquetoast Policies Aren’t Helping Hungry Canadians
Canadian workers are grappling with a cost-of-living crisis and struggling to afford housing and groceries. The Trudeau government's response? Politely requesting that grocery bosses be nicer.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau addresses local Liberal Party supporters at a private fundraiser organized in the Edmonton Convention Center, on August 26, 2023, in Edmonton, Canada.(Artur Widak / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Slumping in the polls, the Trudeau government has awakened to the fact that people are struggling to get through the day, are plenty angry about it, and expect government to do something to improve their lot. Now, the Liberals are scrambling to do just that — particularly on housing and the cost of food. It remains to be seen whether their hastily constructed plans will yield tangible results or merely serve as political theater.
A cabinet shuffle earlier this summer did nothing to improve Liberal fortunes. Normal people, to the extent that they care about political maneuvering, appear disinclined to believe that moving the deck chairs around would keep the ship afloat. Public comments about Trudeau’s leadership by disaffected members of Parliament followed. The party’s caucus retreat last week reinforced the point that things were not good, as members of Team Trudeau told the boss what they were hearing from the hoi polloi. Anger, frustration, anxiety. Struggles to make rent and put food on the table.
Toothless Measures
In late July, polling firm Maru found that consumers were overwhelmingly convinced that grocery prices were going to keep rising in the next six months. A plurality of 39 percent blamed high prices on grocer price gouging, while roughly a third, 28 percent, blamed suppliers.
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