Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is a controversial figure. Despite his soaring rhetoric, Trudeau's commitment to progressive politics is sometimes questionable. ALSO READ: Police In Canada Have Actually Arrested A Man For Hiding Cocaine In Tim Hortons Timbits TL;DR As leaders of major economies and democracies continue to flounder and adopt concerning policies, Trudeau has, despite vocal disdain for his character, remained remarkably consistent. This stability contrasts sharply with the volatile atmosphere that has come to dominate political discourse around the world. The launch of the truth and reconciliation committee and the legalization of recreational marijuana, for example, are among his most notable accomplishments. But both processes have been marred with controversy. Other promises, like electoral reform, have been apparently abandoned. Trudeau is also criticized for caring more about appearances and stunts than impactful policy. View this post on Instagram Our priority is – and always will be – helping Canadians. It’s what we’ve been focused on during our Cabinet meetings these past two days, and as we head into the fall, we’re going to work hard to keep growing the economy & creating more good jobs for the middle class. 🇨🇦 Notre priorité demeure la même : aider les Canadiens. C’est sur quoi ont porté les réunions du Cabinet ces deux derniers jours. Alors qu’approche l’automne, nous nous efforcerons de continuer de faire croître l’économie et de créer plus de bons emplois pour la classe moyenne. A post shared by Justin Trudeau (@justinpjtrudeau) on Aug 23, 2018 at 5:39pm PDT But while many have questioned his leadership ability, Trudeau represents perhaps the world's last hope for stability and, among the largest economies on the globe, the preservation of democratic values. Consider, for instance, the standing of his international peers. American president Donald Trump is almost universally despised and continuously undermines the norms of political decency. The government of UK prime minister Theresa May is falling apart around her as the deadline for a Brexit deal looms. The state of the UK is perhaps best summed up by this Guardian title today: "Theresa May personifies the UK: lonely, exhausted, her power ebbing away." Angela Merkel, the stalwart chancellor of Germany, has announced that she does not intend to seek another term in office. Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party continues to gain popularity. French president Emmanuel Macron is under siege as extremist factions rise in his country. In India, PM Narendra Modi is pushing a nationalist agenda with devastating consequences for his opponents. In Brazil, far-right president-elect Jair Bolsonaro poses a fundamental threat to his country's democratic institutions. View this post on Instagram Late-day meeting. Always a pleasure to see you @emmanuelmacron, and talk about our shared priorities for Canada & France. 🇨🇦🇫🇷 Rencontre de fin de journée. C'est toujours un plaisir de vous revoir, @emmanuelmacron, et de parler de nos priorités communes pour le Canada et la France. A post shared by Justin Trudeau (@justinpjtrudeau) on Sep 26, 2018 at 7:06am PDT But as massive changes rip through the international community, Canadian politics have remained remarkably, and thankfully, predictable. One year ahead of the federal elections, the Liberal party, of which Trudeau is the head, is poised to not only maintain their comfortable majority, but grow it. Latest polling suggests the Liberals will pick up a net of four seats in the House. The reason for this almost unbelievable projection is not, perhaps, that the Liberals have performed particularly well, but that there are no viable alternatives. @justinpjtrudeauembedded via The federal NDP and Conservatives continue to flounder and have yet to land on a resounding message to carry them through the upcoming campaign period. As it stands, despite vocal disdain for his character, Trudeau represents the last foothold of healthy democracy. The reelection of his party to a majority government next year will only bolster that reputation. Trudeau is the last leader standing.
