Trudeau believes Scheer would weaken Canada's place on the world stage

The speech was intended to outline Canada's priorities for the upcoming G7 summit in Biarritz, France, but a few weeks before the election campaign began, Justin Trudeau fired on his rival Andrew Scheer. .

In a speech given Wednesday at noon in front of the Council for International Relations of Montreal (CORIM), the Prime Minister has once again lambasted the policies of division of conservatives that he finds echo on the international scene.

"They (the Conservatives) envision a world where Canada flirts with the forces of populism, fanning fear and spreading misinformation," he said.

Setting the stage for this new duel, Justin Trudeau pointed out – four years after taking power – that "2019 looks very different from 2015". "The world has changed quickly" and has become "more and more unpredictable," he warned.

There are many countries that fall back on themselves, succumbing to the sirens of nationalism and populism, he lamented. At a time when protectionism is rising, "trade has become a weapon". Disenchanted citizens are struggling today to see how globalization benefits more than 1% of the better off. And global warming has become "an existential threat to humanity".

Faced with these challenges, the Conservatives are proposing a "foreign policy approach that will weaken Canada's place on the world stage," the Liberal leader told a packed audience. "Conservative politicians envision a world where they deny essential support to vulnerable and marginalized women by refusing to fund sexual and reproductive health and rights," he said.

Andrew Scheer's party does not "understand" the climate emergency, the Liberal leader said. "They envision a world where Canada would act as if climate change did not exist. "

priorities

Taking up some of the formulas that hit the mark during the last election campaign, Justin Trudeau once again spoke of his "positive vision" of Canada, a country "rooted in the values ​​of diversity and openness", which makes "Prosperity of the middle class" its priority.

The Prime Minister has proposed making democracy, human rights, international law and environmental protection the cornerstones of Canadian foreign policy.

"We should stand side by side with those who risk their lives to defend democracy and peace, and be ready to offer them refuge when they are victims of persecution abroad," he said.

Turning his gaze into the rearview mirror, Justin Trudeau praised the Liberal record and praised the work of some of his government's tenors, including Chrystia Freeland, who "firmly" defended Canadian interests in the renegotiation of NAFTA.

This trade agreement – made with the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement – now allows Canadians to have "duty-free access to two-thirds of the global economy," he said.

While saying that the free flow of goods and services is good for the economy, Justin Trudeau said that free trade does not benefit everyone equally. A new approach – linked to Canadian values ​​- is needed, since "just assuming that the benefits of trade will make their way to the citizens is careless and incorrect".

Just hours before the opening of the G7 summit, the Prime Minister insisted that climate change is the most pressing issue, requiring a global solution. "Climate change will shape relations between countries for decades to come. "