Justin Trudeau Is His Own Man Now (published in The Gazette)

Original title submitted was, "The Prime Minister I Know." Click here for link to The Gazette page. Article reprinted below:
The first time I ever went door-to-door canvasing was in 2009 with the newly elected MP from Papineau, Justin Trudeau. The few hours we spent together, just the two of us, gave me an unexpected glimpse into the character of Canada’s new prime minister.

Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on October 20, 2015. NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

It was during the federal by-election in Hochelaga in east Montreal, where I was running for the Liberals. He hadn’t made his own mark yet on the country’s consciousness, so people who loved his father loved him, and those who hated his father, well …

A family would go gaga at the sight of him, all emotions and shouts, “I can’t believe it, it’s Justin Trudeau. Everybody come on down,” and so on. At the opposite end, a rare door slammed in our faces with a “F— y–” thrown in for good measure. Most, however, were quietly sympathetic or politely unsupportive.

Through it all, Trudeau remained remarkably stoic, taking it all in stride. In the years since, I have never seen him depart from such measured response to either glowing praise or personal attacks. Nor have I witnessed him letting more than a few close friends into his personal life. This is not a man seeking to be liked at all costs, as some have opined, thus allowing him to take principled stances regardless of popularity when necessary.

I’ve had a chance to talk with him on many occasions over the years. My take is he understood Canada better than his main rivals. He began criss-crossing the country at a young age, studied, worked and lived in different parts of the country, and travelled pretty much everywhere else before entering politics. And he’s been constantly invited to meet, speak and exchange with Canadians of all strata and regions throughout.

Much has been said of off-the-cuff remarks over the years. They can uncover some inner thoughts and core values. According to Harvard leadership guru Ronald Heifetz, it is more important to listen for the “song beneath the words.” Trudeau’s remarks reveal a less militarist stance, an understanding that cultural integration is a process, and deeply held democratic values. The choice of lyrics will improve with practice.

He will also need to broaden policy and decision making, which is easier to promise than to deliver, especially after achieving such success on that front with a close-knit group in and around the Liberal Leader’s Office.

Was it easy for him to get to the PMO? He certainly had a leg up due to his surname, good looks, wealth and opportunities, and he’d be the first to acknowledge it. However he spent his entire adult life being compared to his illustrious father. It can be a source of inspiration and motivation, or lead to capitulation, public mischief, withdrawal or depression. It drove a young George W. Bush to the bottle and then to Jesus and the White House.

In Trudeau’s case, he matured, found his calling and bore down. Those who were surprised by his commanding performance during the campaign could have seen it coming. He always prepares well before major events, be it the speech that launched his leadership bid three years ago, the numerous policy presentations made since, or even his boxing match with Patrick Brazeau.

The election campaign showed us who he had become and made him whole. To borrow a cliché, he’s more his own man now. Not a complete separation, but well on his way. Henceforth, he will be compared against the standard he has set for himself and his government, and to all prime minsters past — not just one.

Robert M. David teaches at the University of Ottawa and Concordia University. He was a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada in 2009 and 2011.