I can remember when Justin Trudeau was born on Christmas Day 1971. There followed many pictures of he and his brothers peering between the legs of world leaders when his father took them along to Commonwealth Conferences or State Visits. When he decided to run for office Maclean’s Mag published a multi-page spread in which they interviewed his skiing buddies and anyone else they could persuade to talk. In the most recent election the Tory Party ran some very un-Canadian attack ads. History will judge whether or not he was “up to the job” but if a son learns his trade by watching his father Justin had a unique training ground. So far there have been no pictures of him pirouetting behind the back of the Queen or saying fuddle duddle. This autobiography serves as his attempt to set the record straight.
The book is well-edited and very readable. After trying out the generous sample first chapter I was moved to want to read the rest.
When I reached the section documenting the electoral machinations I got bogged down. First Trudeau persuaded the Liberal members of his riding to select him as candidate over the party leader’s approved choice. Then he persuaded the voters of Papineau to unseat their elected representative in his favour. Then he persuaded the Liberal Party of Canada to select him as party leader. Finally helped elect a majority government making him Prime Minister.
Even if the cachet of the name Trudeau didn’t work in his favour the family fortune enabled him to conduct his electioneering with a sense of comfort. It takes $2 billion to elect a president of the US. The record of donors and their contributions are a matter of public record in Canada. Trudeau’s maternal grandfather was a bagman for the party. He gets mention but in slightly more flattering terms. These final chapters are more political statement than biography. I happen to agree that the Harper Tories needed defeating. Ploughing through Trudeau’s policy statements makes for dry reading unless you’re a politico junkie.
The book is well-edited and very readable. After trying out the generous sample first chapter I was moved to want to read the rest.
When I reached the section documenting the electoral machinations I got bogged down. First Trudeau persuaded the Liberal members of his riding to select him as candidate over the party leader’s approved choice. Then he persuaded the voters of Papineau to unseat their elected representative in his favour. Then he persuaded the Liberal Party of Canada to select him as party leader. Finally helped elect a majority government making him Prime Minister.
Even if the cachet of the name Trudeau didn’t work in his favour the family fortune enabled him to conduct his electioneering with a sense of comfort. It takes $2 billion to elect a president of the US. The record of donors and their contributions are a matter of public record in Canada. Trudeau’s maternal grandfather was a bagman for the party. He gets mention but in slightly more flattering terms. These final chapters are more political statement than biography. I happen to agree that the Harper Tories needed defeating. Ploughing through Trudeau’s policy statements makes for dry reading unless you’re a politico junkie.
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