Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau spent some 20 minutes live on the show Everybody talks about it on Radio-Canada, Sunday evening, to talk about immigration, the federal budget and Chinese interference in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Immigration
After the discovery of eight bodies of migrants, including two children, who died trying to reach the United States by the St. Lawrence River this week, the host of Everybody talks about itGuy A. Lepage, opened the program by asking the Prime Minister how to prevent such a disaster from happening again.
“We must do everything to avoid these tragedies,” admitted Mr. Trudeau. The Prime Minister insisted that the tightening of the safe third country agreement announced a week earlier was aimed at avoiding these kinds of tragedies through irregular crossings. And this, even if specialists believe that these restrictions risk amplifying the phenomenon.
“We continue to be an open and welcoming country, ruled Mr. Trudeau, but we favor people who come on a regular basis. »
Federal budget
The questions then turned to the federal budget, which was tabled earlier this week by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Mr. Trudeau defended himself for having presented a budget that will amplify the national debt and explained the main orientations of the latter, such as support for low-income families, investment in green technologies and health.
“If you decide to buy yourself a nice new television, and you go into debt for that, you will have to pay it back,” illustrated the Prime Minister, responding directly to the co-host of the show, MC Gilles. “But if you instead invest in your children’s education, in an addition to your home, you’re increasing its value and your opportunities for the future. »
“Do you really want to live in a country where you can guess what your parents’ salary was based on the quality of your smile?” “, also launched Mr. Trudeau to Guy A. Lepage in defending the new Canadian dental benefit.
Trudeau said Canada had “the best fiscal position of any G7 country.”
Ukraine and Trump
Trudeau defended Canada’s support for Ukraine, saying financial and military assistance to the country would continue.
On Tuesday’s indictment of former US President Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau preferred not to comment.
“I worry a lot more about my relationship with the current president,” he said.
The political future of Justin Trudeau
The Prime Minister has assured that he has no intention of leaving his place at the head of the Liberal Party of Canada.
I will be there for the next ones [élections]because we have great things to do and I’m still full of enthusiasm.
Justin Trudeau, in an interview at Everybody talks about it
“So we’re inviting you next year?” asked Guy A. Lepage. “I will be there, my friend,” replied the Prime Minister.
Chinese interference
The issue of Chinese interference during the last federal election monopolized the rest of the interview with the Prime Minister on the show.
“Do you have something to hide? asked Guy A. Lepage straight away.
“This is an issue that must be dealt with responsibly,” said Mr. Trudeau. That’s why I preferred to choose [l’ex-gouverneur général David Johnston comme rapporteur officiel dans le dossier]. Someone distinguished, eminent, well reputed to determine whether we need a public inquiry or whether we need something else to get to the bottom of things. »
National security issues would be at stake, added the Prime Minister. “When the lives of those who choose to serve Canada in extremely difficult situations could be endangered, yes, we will have to know how to debate and how to analyze what is happening in a rigorous way. »
The Prime Minister has pledged to hold a public inquiry if Mr. Johnston recommends it.
Artificial intelligence
The interview ended with the question of artificial intelligence. Guy A. Lepage noticed that Italy had just suspended the use of the chatbot ChatGPT on its territory, and that world experts were calling for a moratorium on research.
Justin Trudeau has given no indication that Canada plans to move in this direction. “Yes, that worries me,” he said. There is a lot of work to be done and Canada is involved in trying to create guidelines and parameters in which we will be able to avoid too many slippages. »
The antidote to online disinformation, according to the Prime Minister: “well-educated, well-involved citizens who are aware of the risks that surround them”.