Prime Minister Justin Trudeau swapped his Rideau Cottage desk for the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert couch on Monday, and used the opportunity to chat about everything from the housing crisis to “Canada’s Trump.”
The September 23 appearance was the Canadian PM’s late-night TV debut in the United States, and it aired just one day before a non-confidence motion against the Trudeau government.
In case you missed it, here’s a look at the seven biggest moments, from unicorns and rainbows to Trudeau’s claims that Canada is the best country in the world.
“Canada is the best country in the world”
When Trudeau sat down with Colbert, they kicked things off with some casual chit-chat and introductions. There was a slightly awkward minute or two as they figured out whether Colbert should call him Justin, Prime Minister, or Mr. Prime Minister. Even though Trudeau suggested “Justin,” they landed on “Prime Minister.”
Once that was settled, they moved on to talk about what Canada is like.
“Canada is the best country in the world. You see the scenes, like the beautiful mountains, the rivers, the lakes… we go coast to coast to coast,” he said.
He continued,” Everyone focuses on the land, but really, Canada is about the people. It’s a range of people from every possible background who come together and—a little different from the melting pot in the United States where everyone gets to be American— we try to celebrate differences.”
“It would be easier if you guys had universal healthcare”
A little later in the interview, Trudeau addressed the ongoing softwood lumber dispute with the U.S. when Colbert asked what the two countries typically “fight over.”
He also lightly jibed that it would be easier for Americans to have universal healthcare than to keep coming to Canada for affordable medications.
The conversation then veered into the age-old debate over bacon. Trudeau clarified that what Americans call “Canadian bacon,” which Colbert described as “just a slice of ham,” is actually known as “back bacon” in Canada.
“You have to be fundamentally hopeful in this job”
Trudeau and Colbert returned after an ad break to dive into Canada’s role on the global stage. Colbert asked the Canadian PM whether United Nations summits leave him feeling optimistic or pessimistic about the world’s future.
“Obviously, both. You have to be fundamentally hopeful in this job and particularly in this time when the challenges are monumental,” Trudeau said.
“If you don’t believe that you can actually work with others and make a positive difference, you’re not in the right line of work.”
“Not some magical place of unicorns and rainbows”
This led to a discussion about the rise of the far right “even in Canada.” Colbert then referred to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre as “Canada’s Trump,” a comment Trudeau seemed to sidestep.
“That phrase ‘even in Canada,’ I mean, we’re not some magical place of unicorns and rainbows all the time,” he responded. “We’ve got more than our fair share, but the things that we’ve managed to do, we’ve had to work really, really hard at.”
The PM went on to reference Canada’s work on fighting climate change, dental care, pharmacare and $10-a-day child care.
While he wouldn’t be drawn on “Canada’s Trump,” Trudeau didn’t miss the opportunity for a quick swipe at Poilievre.
“There’s a big argument right now about whether dental care even exists. We delivered it to 700,000 people across the country, and my opponent is gaslighting us and saying, ‘Oh, dental care doesn’t even exist,'” he told Colbert.
“It’s a really tough time in Canada right now”
When Colbert asked why his opponents are pushing for a snap election after nearly ten years in office, Trudeau suggested that frustration over the cost of living is a significant factor.
“Well, it is a really tough time in Canada right now. People are hurting. People are having trouble paying for groceries, paying for rent, filling up the tank…” he said.
Comparing Canada to the United States, he continued, “Some of the things that are a little trickier in Canada, where we’ve lost a little ground over the past decades on building housing, so the housing crisis is a little sharper.”
Although he argued that Canada’s economic outlook is “more positive” than the United States, he added that Canadians “don’t feel it when they’re buying groceries. So there’s a lot of frustration.”
“People are taking a lot out on me”
Continuing to discuss the possibility of an upcoming election in Canada, Trudeau said, “People are frustrated, and the idea that maybe they want an election now is something that my opponents are trying to bank on because people are taking a lot out on me for understandable reasons.”
He continued, “I’ve been here, and I’ve been steering us through all these things, and people are sometimes looking at change.”
However, it sounds like Trudeau has no plans to go quietly, telling Colbert that he’ll “keep fighting on” for another term.
The full episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colberton with Justin Trudeau can be found online via Global TV.
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