Portrait of the PM-designate as a young man
Canada’s prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau speaks during a rally in Ottawa to celebrate the Liberal Party’s victory in the national election (Photo: Chris Roussakis/EPA)
by Daniel McCabe, BA’89
What kind of prime minister will Justin Trudeau, BA’94, be? Over the duration of a long election campaign that Trudeau’s Liberals won in convincing fashion, he and senior members of his team dropped plenty of hints that Trudeau, who will soon become the third McGill graduate to govern Canada (Sir John Abbott, BCL1854, who led the country between 1891 and 1892, was the first), will be largely influenced by the second McGillian to hold the job – Sir Wilfrid Laurier, BCL1864.
One of the first things Trudeau said in his victory speech on Monday night, “Sunny ways, my friends, sunny ways,” directly referenced Laurier and his approach to power. Canada’s prime minister for 15 years, Laurier had plenty of opponents along the way, but precious few enemies. He was known for his “sunny ways” and his good-natured openness to dialogue and compromise.
In his book Common Ground, published last year, Trudeau made it clear that Laurier was an inspiration to him. Laurier, more than any other politician, built the Liberal Party as an entity where both English- and French-Canadians could feel at home. He also ushered in Canada’s first massive wave of immigration. Laurier had a keen appreciation for the fact that Canadians came in all shapes and sizes and a firm belief that diversity needn’t be an impediment to nation-building.
Trudeau quotes Laurier in his book: “We believe different things. How are we to come together to build a country if we focus on what divides us rather than on our shared interests?” He adds, “I believe that Laurier’s logic is as powerful today as it was in his day, if not more so.”
McGill law professor and intellectual property expert David Lametti, LLB’85, BCL’89, won the riding of LaSalle-Émard-Verdun as a Liberal candidate. He says the party’s hopeful, optimistic tone struck a chord with voters. “Our platform was positive, our approach was positive and at the end of the day, people really responded to that. I saw it for myself, going door-to-door.”
Lametti says he himself was propelled to take part in this election “because I was really getting sick of the overall tone of the Harper government – its disdain for science and evidence-based decision-making, its hyper-partisanship.”
Lametti will encounter many familiar faces when he attends his first caucus meeting on Parliament Hill. A significant number of new Liberal MPs are former students of his, including William Amos, BCL/LLB’04, Joël Lightbound, BCL/LLB’11, Catherine McKenna, LLB’99, and Nick Whalen, LLB’01. In fact, the new Liberal caucus will have enough McGill law graduates to form a substantial sub-section if you also include Anthony Housefather, BCL’93, LLB’93, and Marc Miller, BCL/LLB’01.
Trudeau will also spot a familiar figure or two from his McGill days once he begins his new duties. Liberal MP John McCallum, PhD’77, was the dean of arts at McGill during Trudeau’s student days, while Governor General David Johnston, LLD’00, was McGill’s principal.
In a speech he gave in Toronto in March that was organized by the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, Trudeau talked about his time at McGill.
“Most of you will know what I mean when I say this. One of the first things you learn at McGill is that every room is teeming with people who are used to being—or, at least, feeling like—the smartest person in the room.
“Then, as now, since you are all in the same room, basic math requires you to put that feeling behind you.
“And if you’re really smart, you learn to do it quickly. You take advantage of the unique opportunity that comes from being immersed in such a dynamic environment.”
There is no question that Justin Trudeau’s experiences at McGill helped shape the leader he has become. In his book, Trudeau writes that he first became seriously interested in politics at McGill, as he campaigned against the proposed Charlottetown Accord, fearing that it would weaken the powers of the federal government too much. “I made a real pest of myself that year at McGill.”
Trudeau, who describes himself as a feminist, has declared that gender parity will be one of the defining characteristics of the federal cabinet he will soon form as prime minister. In Common Ground, Trudeau writes of striking up friendships with feminist activists on campus and becoming involved with the student-operated Sexual Assault Centre as a facilitator who helped lead discussions about issues like date rape at fraternities and residences.
Another pivotal experience for Trudeau at McGill was his decision to join the McGill Debating Union. As he recently faced off against seasoned performers like Stephen Harper and Tom Mulcair in a series of debates and more than held his own, the training he received at McGill must have been an asset.
“It was an education on its own,” Trudeau wrote of his time with the McGill Debating Union, “focusing my ability to think on my feet, to spot a weakness in an opponent’s argument and exploit it with the right combination of logic and turn of phrase.”
In an interview with the McGill News a few years ago, Trudeau added that the experience helped convince him that he probably wasn’t cut out for a law career. “I discovered I had a serious limitation for either a debater or a lawyer. I wasn’t able to argue for something I didn’t passionately believe in.”
Justin Trudeau at an event for the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada in Toronto last March. To his left is principal adviser Gerald Butts. Note the ties. (Photo: Adam Scotti)
Trudeau joined the McGill Debating Union at the invitation of a new acquaintance, Gerald Butts, BA’93, MA’96, then the Debating Union’s vice-president. The two forged a close friendship at McGill that endures today and Butts, who won two student world championships as a McGill debater, is now Trudeau’s senior adviser and is widely credited as one of the key architects of the Liberals’ election victory. Richard Gwyn, one of Canada’s most experienced political writers, assessed Butts in a Walrus article a few years ago: “He combines a first-rate intellect with the street smarts that come readily to the son of a Cape Breton coal miner.” A member of McGill’s board of governors, Butts is the former president of WWF (World Wildlife Fund)-Canada and served in the Ontario government as the principal secretary to former premier Dalton McGuinty.
During his victory speech, Trudeau singled out Butts and another senior organizer, Katie Telford, for special praise.
“Katie and Gerry are two of the smartest, toughest, hardest working people you will find anywhere. They share with me the conviction that politics doesn’t have to be negative and personal to be successful, that – that you can appeal to the better angels of our nature, and you can win while doing it.”
While many McGill alumni will soon be taking on new roles as MPs, some McGillians will be departing Parliament Hill. All three of the McGill graduates who served as ministers in the Harper government – Chris Alexander, BA’89, Joe Oliver, BA’61, BCL’64, and Greg Rickford, BCL/LLB’05 – were defeated in Monday’s election.
The “McGill Five” – the McGill students who unexpectedly became Quebec MPs as a result of the NDP’s Orange Wave in the last federal election, all lost their seats – with one exception. Matthew Dubé, BA’11, will be returning as the MP for Beloeil-Chambly.
One of the young McGillians who lost her NDP seat was Laurin Liu, who made history in 2011 as the youngest female MP ever to be elected to Parliament. “I’ve had young women tell me that they see me as an example. I think [some of the NDP's younger MPs] helped change the face of Parliament in the last election. Young Canadians who don’t normally pay attention to Parliament took notice.”
The outcome this time wasn’t what she was hoping for, but she takes pride in her accomplishments as a Parliamentarian. She points to her advocacy for people with eating disorders (“They don’t normally get heard”) and her tabling of a private member’s bill to ensure that senior citizens who qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) automatically receive it.
Liu still has a few credits pending before she can finish her McGill degree in history and cultural studies. She says she might return to school but is still assessing her options.
“I’d like to use the skills I’ve developed as a MP to keep fighting for what I believe in. For better or worse, I’m a political junkie.”
Heading to the Hill
Here’s a list of the McGill alumni who were elected to Parliament on Monday.
Liberal Party
William Amos, BCL/LLB’04 (Pontiac)
Joël Lightbound, BCL/LLB’11 (Louis-Hébert)
Jim Carr, BA’79 (Winnipeg South Centre)
Julie Dabrusin, BA’94 (Toronto-Danforth)
Julie Dzerowicz, BCom’94 (Davenport)
Karina Gould, BA’10 (Burlington)
Anthony Housefather, BCL’93, LLB’93 (Mont-Royal)
Angelo Iacono, BA’88 (Alfred-Pellan)
David Lametti, BCL’89, LLB’89 (Lasalle-Émard-Verdun)
Michael Levitt, BA’93 (North York)
John McCallum, PhD’77 (Markham-Thornill)
Catherine McKenna, LLB’99 (Ottawa Centre)
Marc Miller, BCL/LLB’01 (Ville Marie-Le Sud-Ouest-Île-des-Soeurs)
Sherry Romanado, CertPRMgmt’05 (Longueuil-Charles Lemoyne)
Francis Scarpaleggia, BA’79 (Lac-Saint-Louis)
Peter Schiefke, MSc’11 (Vaudreuil-Soulanges)
Brenda Shanahan, BSW’07 (Châteauguay-Lacolle)
Justin Trudeau, BA’94 (Papineau)
Arif Virani, BA’94 (Parkdale-High Park)
Nick Whalen, LLB’01 (St. John’s East)
Jonathan Wilkinson, MA’92 (North Vancouver)
Conservative Party
Steven Blaney, CertMgmt’91 (Bellechase-Les Etchemins-Lévis)
NDP
Matthew Dubé, BA’11 (Beloeil-Chambly)
Tom Mulcair, BCL’76, LLB’77 (Outremont)
RELATED READING:
A Q&A with Tom Mulcair, Joe Oliver and Justin Trudeau
For years, prime ministers and premiers have paid close heed to their McGill-educated advisers
Are you kidding me? If Trudeau was the “smartest person in the room”, he would have graduated to a PhD or professional school and would have at least achieved something remarkable in his life other than river-guiding, ski-instructing, or teaching drama. I can’t believe that McGill would publish such a puff-piece, which is mostly about other McGill graduates who *have* achieved something remarkable in their lives. The CV of any one of the other graduates you mention in this article is longer than Trudeau’s. But I am happy to hear that the McGill debating team helped prepare him for the highest position of leadership in this great country of ours. Putin is licking his chops. Let’s see how far “sunny ways” get him in the fight against ISIS…
Trudeau might not have a PhD, but he was smart enough not to hang out with the likes of Rob Ford. And he was principled enough not to resort to race-baiting. Sorry to say our current PM failed to pass both those tests.
Correct David !!!
Are you kidding me?
Since when do you measure someone’s “smartness” with the degree that they hold? Don’t get me started on the list of “smart people” that didn’t end up getting a PhD.
… et sincèrement désolé de voir que vous la peur vous habite au point de croire que nous ne sommes désormais plus en “sécurité”. Justin Trudeau a remporté une élection avec une écrasante majorité de part le fait qu’il a réussit à prendre les rennes d’un parti, de convaincre ses pairs de lui apporter leur confiance et finalement de donner à un pays le sentiment de renouer avec des valeurs fondamentales fortement baffouées ces dernières années … Ceci dit, le plus dur reste à faire; and all the best!
In C’s defense, academic institutions and employers judge someone’s “smartness” all the time based on the degree they hold, their alma mater, their grades, etc. Any university attendee can tell you that. And that’s the point of this article–that McGill “made” Trudeau the leader that he is. Trudeau winning the election wasn’t extraordinary given the hate-on the media had for Harper. And the desire for “change.” It was the natural ebb and flow of politics and the end result of a great campaign masterminded by others. I will commend him on his great stage performances.
The hate-on the media had for Harper? Sorry, I guess you missed all those endorsements for Harper that were ordered from above at Postmedia newspapers across the country. Most Canadians chose the Liberals over the Conservatives — even though the Conservatives had both the time and the money in this election to make their case strongly.
Well said. The comments on articles in newspapers were generally clear evidence of Harper Derangement Syndrome. It is embarrassing to read such a puff piece. Can we look forward to a follow up in 4 years when the damage to our country by the Liberals has occurred just as McGuinty/Wynne have damaged Ontario?
OMG I can’t digest this comment. Time will show that Justin will be a great PM and leader.
What a cynical response, Catherine! I don’t see the relevance of reference to Putin. For the most part, Canada is not on Russia’s radar screen. If, and when, it is, cabinet ministers rely on senior bureaucrats for advice, policy options, etc. We
have an excellent foreign service that is on the front line of disputes or transgressions that occur. There are now 60+
members of the coalition that is set up to confront and, hopefully, ultimately take down the terrorist groups in the Middle
East. ‘Sunny ways’! Why not? I, for one, am very impressed with the number of Liberal MP’s who are McGill graduates.
It seems that a platform involving soaking the rich, running a deficit budget for 3 years in order to expand government programs is a recipe for ultimate failure based on historical fact. During my days at McGill I the early 70′s the student communist party was very influential. It would seem that those days are alive and well.
“Trudeau, who will soon become the third McGill graduate to govern Canada”
I consider this a grave journalistic error and an indication of how badly Canada has been “governed” in recent years. The Canadian government is not meant to be a dictatorship “governed” by one person. It is meant to be a group effort – by ALL elected persons in cooperation with all the people of Canada. I sincerely hope this McGill graduate will rise to the level of listening to the people of Canada and their varied needs, hopes and values for a stronger Canada.
Glad to see another Trudeau rise to a leadership position. And a fellow McGill graduate, no less! Trudeau is likely to represent Canadian interests in the context of greater liberty and mutliculturalism aspirations. I look forward to his future accomplishments.
Currently he is our prime minister, is he smart? Is he an idiot? Who knows, let’s give him the chance to show us what he is capable of.
He might be mediocre in some things and great in others.
I didn’t believe in him and I still don’t yet. We have to see his work to be able to classify him.
McGill is proud of their students and I agree with them, idiots don’t get to McGill, so let’s wait and see.
Justin seems like a breath of fresh air but let’s watch…As someone mentioned, a PhD is not an indication of intelligence. Politicians, here and abroad, are very good at making promises during election time. But when push comes to shove, how many will take a stand and take action? Anybody can deliver eloquent speeches but words don’t count – actions do.
I am so fed up with our political system that I didn’t even vote this time around. I am afraid that there are too many lobby groups or interest groups that influence political decisions. Even if a prime minister or president of a country really wants to implement changes, they are essentially just marionettes controlled by puppeteers (eg. the corporate world).
I really admire the Swiss political system – that’s a real model for democracy (and no – I am not Swiss but Canadian). After one year, they hold elections. I find that 4 years for each term is way too long. Also, whenever they want to legislate a new law, they hold a referendum in their cantons and make decisions based on what their citizens vote for. When governments in most developed countries want to enforce certain legislations especially regarding foreign policy, they don’t ask citizens what their opinion is.
Let’s watch before jumping to conclusions…
Integrity, common sense and an ability of working with others was what my old friend Pierre had, and from what I have heard this is exactly what Justin seems to have inherited.
Why is Pierre even entering the conversation here? I’ll tell you why: because if our PM-designate’s name was Justin Tibeault, he wouldn’t be an MP, much less the PM. And when did heritability of positive traits become a criterion for the PM office? I didn’t realize Canada was a monarchy. Integrity, common sense and an ability to work with others are criteria for an entry-level service job, we need to hold our leaders to a higher standard. But now the bar is lowered. Not knowing whether your PM is smart or an idiot (Ellie N. above) is a sorry state to be in. And these comments, let’s give him a chance?? Is this a charity?? Craziness.
Great to see a fellow McGillian getting the PMs post. Anti-incumbancy was in the air clearly. Right time at the right place – rode the wave – good PR – Harper fatigue. Real test starts now so lets see what happens. Hope those who continue to be let into Canada are based on merit as it has been for the past decades making it a strong country and that he understands that the new world order is on the way China – India – Brazil – South Africa – Russia – Japan – SKorea are going to make a disportionate say in all that matters to humanity and its important for Canadian foreign policy to make a stand against terrorism wherever it happens,
On a lighter note good to see that western nations are now also beginning their dynasties with the Bushs and Clintons in the US and Trudeau adds to this trend, maybe UK will be he next??
Good luck Justin!
Catherine O….O my goodness how ignorant …since when is one’s intellectual ability directly correlated to academic credentials? Mr. Trudeau’s earned many degrees in my eyes during this campaign – PhD in his ability to communicate with people from all levels of Canadian society regardless of, race, creed, sex, age, to slowly but surely come up from 3rd place in this race in the face of constant criticism and cynicism, to convince a majority of Canadians that we may hope for a leader that exemplifies integrity, commitment, conviction and transparency….Mr. Trudeau has earned a number of PhD’s in my eyes.
I wish him, his life partner and political team great success in the roles they will play in shaping this incredible country of ours.
Bravo!
for the first time, in many years, our prime minister is not a lawyer and for that alone i salute our prime minister elect. it has been asked, caustically, for many years: What good is an arts degree? now perhaps we can think more positively about that question.
and let me remind the neigh sayers of the Brazeau vs Trudeau charity fight : many thought that Mr, Trudeau would take a beating (some even were looking forward to it, like the past election, they thought he just wasn’t ready) but the match had to be mercifully stopped in the 3rd round to save Brazeau from Trudeau’s pounding.
yes, we face some serious problems and i say: Go Justin GO!!
In perusing the list of McGill grads entering Parliament, I was disappointed by the preponderance of Law graduates, along with a few BAs. I have nothing against lawyers, but I think that more MPs with science or engineering backgrounds would provide our government with a useful diversity of perspectives. It was nice to see a person with that kind of background elected in my riding.
Ken Kurkowski BEng ’74