What Justin Trudeau told Stephen Colbert in the PM's late-night TV debut
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said many Canadians are taking their cost-of-living frustrations 鈥渙ut on me for understandable reasons,鈥 during his U.S. late-night television debut on 鈥淭he Late Show鈥 with Stephen Colbert Monday night.
Trudeau made those comments after Colbert asked about Tuesday鈥檚 non-confidence motion in the Trudeau Government and the Liberal party鈥檚 lagging poll numbers.
鈥淭he idea that maybe (Canadians) want an election now is something that my opponents are trying to bank on,鈥 Trudeau told Colbert.
On Tuesday, the Conservatives will table a non-confidence motion to topple the Trudeau government and force a snap election. The fixed election date is currently set for October 2025. But the Bloc Quebecois and NDP have already said they will vote against the motion. That vote is scheduled for Wednesday.
Earlier this month after the NDP ended its supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he would seek a confidence vote 鈥渁t the earliest possible opportunity.鈥
Speaking to Colbert, Trudeau said Canada鈥檚 economic outlook is 鈥渕ore positive鈥 than the United States, but many 鈥渄on鈥檛 feel it when they鈥檙e buying groceries. So there鈥檚 a lot of frustration.鈥
Trudeau also addressed Canada鈥檚 housing crisis.
鈥淪ome of the things that are a little trickier in Canada, where we've lost a little ground over the past decades on building housing,鈥 Trudeau said. 鈥淪o the housing crisis is a little sharper.鈥
The prime minister did sidestep an opportunity to criticize Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre after Colbert referred to the opposition leader as 鈥,鈥 and instead pointed to programs like dental care, pharmacare and $10-a-day child care.
In his interview Monday night, Trudeau also touched on Canada鈥檚 softwood lumber dispute with the U.S. when asked by Colbert about what the two countries 鈥渇ight over.鈥
鈥淚 mean, you guys are paying too much for your lumber because you've got tariffs on it, and that doesn't make any sense,鈥 Trudeau joked to Colbert after suggesting it was a 鈥渟mall鈥 issue.
Earlier this year, the U.S. nearly doubled its duties on softwood lumber imports from Canada, from 8.05 per cent to 14.54 per cent.
In Ottawa, the federal Conservatives took issue with Trudeau鈥檚 remark.
"The U.S softwood lumber tariffs have just doubled, and what does this prime minister do? Does he make trade headlines? No, he's not making headlines, he's making punchlines on late night TV," said Conservative MP Ryan Williams during Tuesday鈥檚 question period. "When is this prime minister going to figure out that he's the punchline and that it's time for a prime minister who will make this a large issue?"
During the segment, Colbert also asked Trudeau about Canada鈥檚 role on the and the rise of far-right movements around the world.
Trudeau is currently in New York City attending the United Nations General Assembly.
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