https://torontosun.com/news/national/embattled-trudeau-wont-follow-bidens-example-and-bow-out-pm
Embattled Trudeau dodges suggestion he follow Biden's example and bow out
Facing months of devastating poll numbers, Canada’s embattled prime minister tossed cold water on those hoping for a Joe Biden-esque departure.
During a Monday morning press conference ahead of the federal cabinet retreat in Halifax, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ducked pointed questions on his future as he faces record-low polling and the Liberals’ conspicuous loss in June’s Toronto-St. Paul’s byelection.
“You say you plan to stay on, despite persistently bad polling, despite the byelection loss in Toronto that your party lost for the first time in three decades because you want to ‘continue to deliver,'” asked Globe and Mail reporter Marieke Walsh.
“Isn’t that what Joe Biden insisted on?”
Questions over the U.S. president’s capacity to handle another election campaign against Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump prompted the 81-year-old commander-in-chief to drop out of the Democratic presidential race in July, paving the way for Vice-President Kamala Harris to run in his stead.
While Biden and his supporters spent weeks after June’s disastrous televised debate rebuffing calls to step aside, he eventually acquiesced after pressure from members of his own party and several high-profile figures — including former president Barack Obama.
In response to Walsh’s question, Trudeau outlined his government’s priorities — insisting their investments and policies will leave Canadians better off.
“Canada has built one of the strongest economies in the G7, in the world right now, because we’ve been there to invest in the middle class and people working hard to enjoy it,” he said, continuing to list recent programs and initiatives put forth by the Trudeau Liberals.
“But you just made the Joe Biden argument, that his record justifies him staying,” Walsh said in her follow-up question to Trudeau, who appeared visibly annoyed by the comparison.
“The electorate is saying they don’t want you, they want change. Your polling is worse than your party’s.”
Trudeau ducked the question again, again extolling the virtues of his government’s policy and programs, telling reporters he spent the summer “talking to Canadians” about the future of the country.
“We’re going to go into this next election putting a very clear choice for Canadians,” he said.
“But we’re still a year-plus away from the election, I’m focused on making sure we’re delivering through that election the kinds of things that Canadians need.”
Cabinet shuffles, announcements and a summer of surprise and unscheduled photo-ops have done little to resurrect Trudeau’s image in the eyes of Canadians.
An Abacus Data poll released last week show the Conservatives continue their domineering lead over the Liberals, with respondents saying their dislike of Trudeau far outweighed their opinions of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Angus Reid’s Trudeau Tracker suggests voters’ appeal for the PM are at record low levels, while his disapproval ratings steadily increased after the 2021 federal election to levels rarely seen in Canada.