Justin Trudeau Makes An Impression In Thunder Bay
By Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
Over 500 people paid $50 each to have lunch with Justin Trudeau, newly elected MP for Papineau, QC in a fundraising effort for the TBRHSC Foundation. Many in the crowd were younger people here to see the 37 year old Trudeau in person. Justin Trudeau, a former high school teacher, has a definite following amoungst today’s youth and gave an inspiring speech on what our roles should be in Canada and the world. After the event held at the Valhalla Inn ballroom the local media asked Justin some questions.
What is your message?
“ The core message is we all have a responsibility to step up and hit the ball. If we sit back and wait for the world to change for us it is never going to happen. We have so many tools in terms of resources and knowledge at our disposal here in Canada to reach out and make a
difference here and around the world. We have to start living up to our responsibility.”
What are your impressions of newly elected President Barrack Obama?
“ His great strength is his capacity to mobilize people, to get people to believe in their possibilities if they all work together. First of all getting out to vote for him allowed a huge change in the US. Now the tasks that Americans are faced with in terms economics and society are going to require everyone to put their shoulder to the wheel. If anyone can do it he can.”
How can we improve our economy in Canada?
“The first investment should be in innovation- creating values and opportunity for people to contribute. We have a resource based economy that started with furs, forests and fish. Then we had the industrial revolution and now we are falling back on our natural resources- our
mines, our forests and fossil fuels for our wealth. Instead of saying it had to be one or the other we need to take the natural resources and add our greatest resource with is Canadians themselves. Our ability to dream, think and create solutions based on the physical resources we have is important. That requires investment in R and D, education and skills development that we are not quite doing.”
What made you get into politics at the time of your life?
“To my mind politics was always a distant possibility. I would say there are so many other ways of making a difference like teaching, advocacy, speaking - all the things I was doing. I was pretty good at it. Having as big a name as Trudeau with all the pluses and minuses, I had to make sure I have demonstrated outside of politics a capacity to deliver and have a certain level of success on my CV. Originally politics was something for when I was 50 or much older. But then I realized the connection I have with people as a teacher and activist, politics offered me another opportunity by going into politics at the ground floor and proving myself every step of the way including a hard nomination and winning back a difficult seat from the Bloc Quebecois. I am there only to represent my constituents and learn about politics
from the ground up with no expectations except being a young person in politics. When I realized that it became a lot more possible.”
How are you enjoying being a MP?
“ The reality is I love it. It was what I thought it would be, what I hoped it would be. It is every bit as much work as I knew it was going to be which is really difficult because every week when I get home from a few days in Ottawa and see my family, my wife greets me the look I
know so well. I ask myself is it still worth it to be away from your two babies for so much time. I have to ask myself that question every single day and the day I can’t answer that is the day I leave politics and go back to teaching. I do know absolutely what I am doing now is
totally worth it however difficult it is on the family side of it. I will continue to make a difference even as I did when I was a high school teacher with whatever tools I get my hands on. I have been focusing on the poverty issues.”
Do you feel you are making a difference?
“ The fact I am replacing an MP who was separatist in my riding is a big difference. She was a strong community activist except I will be much better. She was in here interested to demonstrate the Federal Government doesn’t work. I have been able to pick up the slack in the
riding and deliver for people showing them a Federal system works. I brought forth a motion on national youth service that may not result in the short term a policy on youth service but it is getting parliament to talk about youth,volunteerism and the relevance of young people.
That is a huge victory so I am feeling pretty good so far.”
