Person of Interest: Justin Trudeau, Canada’s new PM

                               by David Parmer / Tokyo

Do a Google search for “Justin” and you will find that the new Canadian Prime Minister comes in a couple places below Justin Bieber and Justin Timberlake. Being Canadian and polite, the new PM would probably say he doesn’t mind. But surely it won’t be long before he inches up in the ratings–for Mr. Trudeau is the hot new property on the international stage.

Canada’s 23rd prime minister and Barak Obama’s best new friend was elected to serve on October 19, 2015 and took office on November 4, 2015. Trudeau, son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau (1968-69, 1980-84) and President Obama do share some similarities in their career paths. “Prominent political family” isn’t one of them, but there are other similarities. For example, both Trudeau and Obama succeeded somewhat conservative predecessors; Obama took over from Bush, and Trudeau took over from Harper. What’s more, both President and Prime Minister were relatively young when elected, and both had fairly “thin” resumes when they assumed office.

The new PM certainly leans to the left of center. He is interested in the environment, is pro-choice, supports the legalization of marijuana, cares about Canada’s indigenous people and is a self-described feminist. Trudeau’s cabinet is diverse in terms of race and gender and representative of today’s Canada he says.

Justin Trudeau has his political career ahead of him, while Barack Obama will finish his in about nine months. (Surely Obama will have an active ex-Presidency, and he will probably enjoy it as much as former President Bill Clinton seems to enjoy his.)

Let’s hope that this Justin, former school teacher, boxer and actor can have a long run on the world scene, do some great things for his beloved Canada–and, yes, inch up in the Google Search Ratings.

PM Trudeau’s speech at the White House 

Photo: World Bank via flickr