Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced an unexpected confrontation recently during a photo opportunity at a steel firm in Ontario. A steelworker, voicing concerns shared by many Canadians, challenged Trudeau over high taxes and the increasing cost of living.
Trudeau’s attempt to defend his policies did not quite help his case as the steel worker replied to him saying, “I don't believe you for a second.” The brief but tense exchange was captured on video.
The worker could also be heard telling Trudeau, “I think you are only here for another year. We won’t see you around in another year.”
The confrontation underpinned the discontent Trudeau is encountering among Canadians. Now in his ninth year as Prime Minister, Trudeau has experienced a sharp decline in his approval ratings, marking a contrast to his earlier popularity.
A survey by global market research and public opinion firm IPSOS last month revealed that around two-thirds (67 per cent) of Canadians now disapprove of Justin Trudeau's leadership as Prime Minister, an increase of 4 points since June. Pierre Poilievre remains the top pick for Prime Minister among Canadians (45 per cent), while Trudeau lags by 19 points at 26 per cent, the survey revealed.
Not just that, Trudeau’s Liberal Party recently suffered electoral setbacks too. Last month, the ruling party lost a once-safe seat in Montreal. This came just three months after it suffered a major upset in a special election for a Toronto district.
Trudeau also weathered two no-confidence motions in Parliament. He reportedly faces mounting pressure within his own party with several colleagues urging him to resign from his position.
Eye on Sikh votes?
As the Canadian Prime Minister grapples with declining popularity and increasing opposition at home, his actions are being interpreted as an attempt to woo the politically-significant Sikh community ahead of next year’s federal elections.
Canada is home to about 770,000 Sikhs, making them the fourth-largest ethnic group in the country. Within this community, there exists a significant faction that supports the Khalistan movement.
Given the size and influence of the Sikh population, along with the presence of Khalistan supporters among them, Trudeau's engagement with this community carries substantial political weight.
Adding to Trudeau’s troubles, the New Democratic Party, led by Jagmeet Singh, a strong voice of the Sikh community, announced that it is terminating the supply and confidence agreement with the Liberal Party — doing away with the automatic support to the Justin Trudeau government in the House of Commons.
India’s ties with Canada
India's relations with Canada hit a new low after Ottawa linked India's high commissioner and other diplomats to the murder of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on its soil and accused New Delhi of a broader effort to target Indian dissidents in Canada.
India denied the accusations, describing them as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's domesitc "political agenda".
“The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The implication was clear: Trudeau is raking up these issues to seek favour with some elements in the Sikh community.
Earlier too, India has denounced the Canadian PM for dragging the names of its diplomats into the murder probe to woo a certain vote bank.
The China angle
And there's the China angle too.
Trudeau is also trying to divert attention from the pressure he faces over China’s interference in Canada’s elections.
Trudeau has tried to equate India with China on foreign interference, even though Canadian reports rank China much higher.
While Trudeau acknowledged Chinese interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections, he denied that it affected the outcomes, where his party emerged as the largest.
Under pressure, Trudeau is now trying to shift focus by using the killing of Nijjar to accuse India of interference.
The strategy helps him avoid confrontation over China while reopening diplomatic channels with Beijing, following tensions over the 2018 arrest of Huawei's CFO.
In 2023, ties between India and Canada came under severe strain after Trudeau's allegations in September of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".
Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in relation to an investigation of the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year.
India earlier said it had ordered the expulsion of six top Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner, and said it had withdrawn its envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada's statement that it had expelled the envoy.
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