Justin Trudeau含羞草研究社檚 interview on 含羞草研究社淭he Late Show with Stephen Colbert含羞草研究社� began with the expected jokes about bacon and Canadians saying sorry a lot, but the prime minister acknowledged it含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渁 really tough time含羞草研究社� in the country when the host asked about an expected confidence vote in Parliament this week.
含羞草研究社淧eople are hurting. People are having trouble paying for groceries, paying for rent, filling up the tank,含羞草研究社� Trudeau said during the CBS program Monday in New York, where he has been meeting with world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Trudeau admitted there含羞草研究社檚 frustration. He said the housing crisis 含羞草研究社渋s a little sharper含羞草研究社� in Canada than it is in the U.S. And even though he said Canada含羞草研究社檚 economy is performing better on a 含羞草研究社渕acro含羞草研究社� level than its southern neighbour含羞草研究社檚, people don含羞草研究社檛 feel it when they含羞草研究社檙e at the checkout.
Still, he said it含羞草研究社檚 important to invest in people by moving forward with $10 a day child care, dental care and pharmacare so that diabetes medication and prescription contraception will be free.
Trudeau will return to Ottawa on Wednesday in time for a vote on an expected non-confidence motion the Conservatives have threatened to bring in against his minority government.
含羞草研究社淧eople are sometimes looking at change but the reality is I deeply believe in continuing to fight climate change and continuing to invest in people, continuing to be there to support people. And I含羞草研究社檓 going to keep fighting,含羞草研究社� he told Colbert.
At one point Colbert said flirtations with fascism and xenophobia were rising across the globe, and he said that even in Canada, Trudeau含羞草研究社檚 opponent has been called 含羞草研究社淐anada含羞草研究社檚 Trump.含羞草研究社� He wondered why such ideologies were getting traction in a country 含羞草研究社渁s polite as Canada.含羞草研究社�
Trudeau didn含羞草研究社檛 bite on the Trump remark, but responded that Canada isn含羞草研究社檛 perfect. He said universal health care took decades to fight for, and things like leading the world with action on climate change are worth fighting for, too.
含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 a big argument right now about whether dental care really exists. We含羞草研究社檝e delivered it to 700,000 people across the country and my opponent is gaslighting us and saying, oh, dental care doesn含羞草研究社檛 even exist yet,含羞草研究社� he said.
Conservative health critic Stephen Ellis said in a statement earlier this month that the government had botched the dental program, saying the vast majority of Canadians don含羞草研究社檛 qualify, and those who do may still have to pay out of pocket.
Colbert also asked Trudeau about issues Canada and the U.S. fight over, such as the softwood lumber duty that the U.S. Department of Commerce nearly doubled in August. Trudeau replied that Americans are paying too much for lumber because of the tariffs.
含羞草研究社淲e come over the border for cheaper drugs. You guys happy with that?含羞草研究社� Colbert asked.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e happy to try and help you out but it would be really easier if you get universal health care,含羞草研究社� Trudeau answered, to loud applause from the audience.
