Regardless of the criticism, said Trudeau

Photo Agence QMI, Matthew Usherwood
The prime minister Justin Trudeau gave an interview to the Newspaper last Tuesday at the Pub, Chelsea, in the Outaouais region. He responded to questions during a little more than 20 minutes, while drinking a beer.

Sarah Bélisle

Saturday, 20 January, 2018 01:00

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Saturday, 20 January, 2018 01:00

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OTTAWA | ethical problems, who do not want to die, ministers in hot water, shots grouped against the agreement Netflix and surveys to the downside. The fall has been difficult for the federal liberal government. But regardless of what that may say to his critics, the ordinary citizens he encounters are very positive, and that is all that matters, insists Justin Trudeau, determined to stay the course. In an interview with our parliamentary bureau at the Pub Chelsea, the prime minister came back on last month and set the stage for those to come.

The session has been rather difficult for you. There have been several business scandals, problems. A survey gives you a rate of dissatisfaction on the rise (39 %). This is similar to what Stephen Harper had before the last election. How are you going to convince the public that you will deliver the goods in 2018 ?

Polls, there are always those who say all kinds of things. We, we do not pay too much attention to it. It remains grounded in what people tell us. […] It is sure that across the province of Quebec, the people are rather positive compared to what we are delivering and we will continue to deliver the goods […] We will continue to put the emphasis on what people have told us about […] What’s coming up, it is still in the process of investing in infrastructure, whether public transport, bridges, roads, it has a lot of the investments that have a tangible impact in the lives of the people. I understand that in politics, there are always attacks and concerns, but when you talk to people, they talk about the concrete, which leads them to have more opportunities to succeed.

The ethical problems you have stuck to the skin (among other things, Mr. Trudeau has been blamed for his trip on the private island of the Aga Khan). Do you undertake to reform the laws and rules that surround the ethics of the federal government to give them more teeth ?

What we are seeing is that our system with the ethics commissioner operates. It is there to ensure that all mps, including the prime minister, following appropriate and accurate rules. And when she said that no, we had not worked enough with it compared to my family vacation, I said absolutely. […] It is important for citizens to know […] that there is an objective measure [that judge] if people are trying to follow the rules or not. And having the office of the ethics commissioner to be able to say ” here is what ought to be done, here is what I am looking forward to the next time “, this is an assurance for the citizens.

The ex-commissioner has even said that you broke the law. Some of the terms you use suggest that you minimize the case.

No, not at all. It is a serious thing to resume a prime minister to have violated the code of ethics. We take it very seriously […]. I’ve apologized to Canadians for that.

The ex-commissioner said that the law had to be changed. Is this something you agree?

I’m always open to it. It is a decision not only to a government but to all members because the office of the commissioner is there to protect all members and I think that all the different parties will have their say on it. It is for this reason that it is a very good thing that the ethics committee is considering this legislation and how it can be improved. It is quite open to it.

Beyond being open to reform, there is no formal commitment on your part?

We are in the process of waiting for the committee to do its study, and we will look at the recommendations.

Could there be a ministerial reshuffle in 2018?

We are extremely happy with the team we a. there is no plan, in the short or the medium term, to make a reshuffle.

But several ministers are an embarrassment, among other Mélanie Joly, who has struggled to defend the agreement with Netflix, Diane Lebouthillier, who is struggling to bring its records, Kent Hehr, who made comments deemed insulting to the place of the citizens. You trust them ?

Photo Agence QMI, Joel Lemay

Mélanie Joly

Heritage minister

Our ministers are delivering on the platform what Canadians have asked us to deliver. I am extremely proud of all my ministers. Melanie [Joly], which recognizes, even if there are others elsewhere that do not want to recognize, that the world is changing ; […] Kent Hehr, who is in the process of creating a national strategy on the accessibility […] ; Diane Lebouthillier, who is a great person and a minister to be exceptional, is in the process of bringing the revenue Agency to [improve] his service to the citizens. [Ms. Lebouthillier] is in the process of combating a practical way evasion and tax avoidance.

Photo Guillaume St-Pierre

Diane Lebouthillier

Minister of Revenue

An example of what you intend to do in 2018 ?

We are in the process of looking at how we are going to help low-income workers to [be paid] to take jobs and to go beyond the expenditure of the social well-being […] by investing almost$ 500 Million per year in a program.

Quebec does not need protection in the agreement Netflix

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If there are no quotas francophones in the agreement of Ottawa with Netflix, it is simply because the province of Quebec did not need this special assistance, says the prime minister.

“We know […] Netflix […] recognizes the extraordinary quality that we have in Quebec in terms of production, in terms of filmmakers, in terms of film crews. It has enormous benefits in Quebec and I know that Quebec does not need to be supported in a special way, because the quality of what we do is as good, if not better, than what is done elsewhere in Canada, ” says Justin Trudeau, when asked to explain the absence of such quotas.

The agreement, which has caused much ink to flow this fall is anticipated that the u.s. giant will invest$ 500 Million over five years in the original production in Canada. The agreement does not impose any minimum content in French. Only$ 25 Million to explore the possibility of producing content in French.

The agreement has been cut in pieces in Quebec because of this absence, but mostly due to the leave of taxes granted to Netflix.

Indeed, the american giant does not have to charge the tax to consumers. It will also not be required to contribute to the Canada media Fund, as the cable companies here.

In December, quebec personalities from various walks of life have made a common front to denounce the” unfairness ” of federal policies in the face of the giants of the web. The latter undermines the culture in quebec and canada, according to them.

Fair or not ?

Namely, if it considers that the leave of taxes granted to Netflix is fair with businesses and artisans here, prime minister Trudeau has avoided the question by reiterating that his government had no intention of applying the tax.

“It is a promise that I made, he repeated. I find that the middle class pays enough in taxes, and I don’t want to increase their tax burden]. “

He remains convinced that a part of the prize pool will be invested by Netflix in Quebec, quota or not.

Netflix is just one example of the various federal matters that have aroused the people’s anger or the concern in Quebec in recent months.

Some voices were raised to say that the prime minister and his entourage were not listening to Quebec. What belies Mr. Trudeau, while defending well to take the province for granted.

Positive on the field

“I understand that they have concerns and we are happy to be able to talk and be able to reassure the people, ensures the prime minister. I’ve heard some people grumble, but for me, when I was on the ground, [my conversations with the citizens] have been extremely positive, ” says the prime minister.

And “the real conversations with the world, this is what counts,” he says.