By Nadine Eagles-Harvie
THE HANTS JOURNAL
NovaNewsNow.com
He’s long and lean and passionate about politics. Justin Trudeau, Liberal MP for the riding of Papineau, Montreal and the son of the late Pierre Elliot Trudeau turned a few heads during a surprise visit to Windsor Friday, June 18.
Trudeau was the special guest of Kings/Hants MP Scott Brison who couldn’t resist showing off his home riding, which included the Windsor Hockey Heritage Museum, where they met up with Mayor, Paul Beazley and Richard Cole, vice-president of the West Hants Chamber of Commerce and Tommy Guns proprietor.
The hockey enthusiast marveled at many of the museums displays but still had time to talk politics.
When asked what prompted the visit Trudeau said members of the liberal party are taking every opportunity to connect with Canadians. “It’s about being accessible and offering a fresh voice and perspective,” he said.
“What the liberals are doing is getting out and around and letting people know there is a progressive, companionate and responsible alternative to the government we have now. We want to remind Canadians that we deserve better than what the Harper government is offering.”
One of the issues close to Trudeau’s heart is youth in politics. He said it is critical to engage young people in all levels of government.
“We need to seen a message that their voice is important. Young people are more informed and more aware of what is happening in the world today, yet they are frustrated because they don’t know how to make a difference.” He said the perception is that young people don’t care; the reality is that they “care too much”.
“We have to stop labeling young people as the ‘leaders of tomorrow’, the are our ‘leaders of today’.” We need as many perspectives as possible; that’s where young people come in.”
Later he and Brison sat down for lunch with Windsor’s Deputy Mayor Laurie Murley and former mayor, Anna Allen where they discussed among other things, hockey, diversity, municipal government and women in politics.
“It’s important not just for young women to see women in politics, its also important for the majority to see this,” Trudeau said. “We need an array of voices and there is the weakness of our current government.”
“One brain is never as smart as the breadth of diversity. To me Canada is strong not despite it’s diversity but because of it’s diversity.”
