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Justin Trudeau’s prior charges that Indian agents were involved in the 2023 murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar are the source of this diplomatic dispute.
India made “a horrific mistake” by interfering as aggressively as it allegedly did in Canada’s sovereignty, according to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is currently facing criticism for his remarks. In a year of diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, Mr. Trudeau made his most forceful remarks just days after the two nations expelled six of one another’s diplomats.
In a retaliation against Justin Trudeau, India’s Ministry of External Affairs claimed that Canada had offered no proof for the “serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats.”
Justin Trudeau: Who is he?
Justin Trudeau, Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister, has steered the country through significant challenges. Mr. Trudeau has demonstrated strong leadership in addressing issues ranging from national security and diplomatic tensions to climate change and economic uncertainty.
Education and Early Life
Justin Trudeau was born on December 25, 1971, in Ottawa, Ontario, into political royalty. He is the son of Margaret and Pierre Trudeau, the former prime minister of Canada.
Justin Trudeau studied literature at McGill University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994. After graduating from the University of British Columbia’s education program, he taught math and French in Vancouver for a number of years.
He served the community as the Chair of Katimavik, a nationwide youth volunteer organisation founded by his father, prior to going into politics. He served on the Canadian Avalanche Foundation’s board as well. Justin Trudeau also appeared in the television miniseries The Great War and provided coverage of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens for a Montreal radio station.
Political innings
Justin Trudeau’s entry into politics was marked by his election to the House of Commons in 2008, representing the district of Papineau. He served as the Liberal Party’s official opposition critic for youth and multiculturalism, citizenship and immigration, and secondary education and sport. He was re-elected in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2021.
Justin Trudeau became the Leader of the Liberal Party in April 2013, focusing on job creation, economic growth, and environmental protection. His win with 80 percent of the votes set him up for the 2015 general election fight, where he faced Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
He was sworn in as Prime Minister on November 4, 2015, just over two weeks after he led the Liberal Party to victory on October 19.
As Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau continued to make waves in Canadian politics. In 2016, he established the Canada Child Benefit, legalised medical assistance for dying and introduced the federal carbon tax. He also legalised recreational marijuana through the Cannabis Act in 2018. In addition, he attempted Senate appointment reform by establishing the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments and introduced the federal carbon tax.
Additionally, he appointed the first gender-balanced cabinet in Canada.
Personal Life
Sophie Gregoire and Justin Trudeau were married in Montreal in 2005. Xavier (2007), Ella Grace (2009), and Hadrien (2014) are their three children.
They sold their house in Montreal and rented a place in Ottawa in June 2013, following Mr. Trudeau’s election as leader of the Liberal Party. When Ms. Gregoire and the kids were asleep in 2014, someone broke in and left a threatening note. At the time, Justin Trudeau was not present. He relocated to Rideau Cottage following his election victory in 2015.
Achievements in Foreign Policy
Trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) were negotiated by Justin Trudeau’s administration. In order to show Canada’s commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, he also signed the Paris Climate Agreement.
In 2016, the government of Mr. Trudeau also ratified the Paris Climate Agreement.
Wins in Elections
In Canada’s federal elections, Justin Trudeau guided the Liberal Party to two consecutive wins for a minority government. Despite winning 157 seats in the 2019 federal election, Mr. Trudeau’s Liberal Party lost their majority and now requires assistance from other parties to govern. Building on his 2015 victory when he enacted tax cuts and child benefits, the campaign focused on economic security and climate action.
In the 2021 federal election, Justin Trudeau once again led the Liberals to another minority government. This recurring result also emphasised the necessity of continuous coalition building.
Activities
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Justin Trudeau’s administration implemented a number of policies, such as a nationwide $10 per day childcare program in 2021 and a ban on “assault-style” weapons in 2020. More recently, on March 22, 2022, Justin Trudeau signed a confidence and supply agreement with the New Democratic Party (NDP) and started a nationwide school food program. As a result of this agreement, a national pharmacy framework and the Canadian Dental Care Plan were introduced in 2022.
Canada-India Relations Under Trudeau’s Administration
Under the Justin Trudeau administration, diplomatic tensions between Canada and India have considerably increased. The crisis started in June 2023 when Khalistani leader and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar passed away. According to Mr. Trudeau’s administration, the murder was carried out by Indian government operatives. India strongly disputes these allegations.
Canada quickly reacted diplomatically by expelling six Indian diplomats, and India did the same. Along with other targeted officials, India also pulled its High Commissioner out of Canada. According to Justin Trudeau, Indian agents were responsible for other violent acts in Canada in addition to Nijjar’s murder. In response, India called these allegations “preposterous” and criticised Mr. Trudeau’s administration for engaging in “vote bank politics.”
Controversies
- Aga Khan row: Justin Trudeau and his family visited the Bahamas’ private island owned by the Aga Khan in 2016. In addition to being a spiritual leader, the Aga Khan is the head of a development network that is supported by the Canadian government. Conflicts of interest and ethics were brought up by this. Mr. Trudeau violated four provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act, according to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s investigation.
- Problem with SNC-Lavalin: The Canadian engineering company SNC-Lavalin was charged with fraud and corruption in connection with its business activities in Libya. The business urged the government to step in. Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould was accused of being pressured by Justin Trudeau and his office to grant SNC-Lavalin a deferred prosecution agreement. When Mr. Wilson-Raybould refused, she was later relieved of her cabinet position.
- Freedom Convoy: The Canada convoy protest, known as the Freedom Convoy, started in January 2022 against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truckers. These truckers from across Canada gathered in Ottawa, expressing broader anti-government grievances against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Mr. Trudeau moved for safety as the protests got out of hand and referred to the protests as an “insult to the truth.” He used the Emergencies Act, which was challenged in court on February 14. After police intervention put an end to the protests, the declaration was withdrawn on February 23.