Stephen Colbert is informed by Trudeau that there is dissatisfaction in Canada, but he will not give up

Justin Trudeau’s appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” kicked off with the usual light-hearted jokes about bacon and the Canadian penchant for apologizing. However, when Colbert raised the topic of an impending confidence vote in Parliament, the Prime Minister acknowledged that it’s “a really tough time” in the country.

“People are hurting. People are having trouble paying for groceries, paying for rent, filling up the tank,” Trudeau remarked during the CBS program on Monday, while in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

He recognized the frustration among Canadians, noting that the housing crisis is “a little sharper” in Canada than in the U.S. Despite asserting that Canada’s economy is performing better on a “macro” level than its southern neighbor's, he acknowledged that many Canadians don’t feel that improvement at the checkout.

Trudeau emphasized the need to invest in people, advocating for initiatives like $10 a day childcare, dental care, and pharmacare, which would make diabetes medication and prescription contraception free.

He is set to return to Ottawa on Wednesday in time for a vote on a non-confidence motion threatened by the Conservatives against his minority government.

“People are sometimes looking at change but the reality is I deeply believe in continuing to fight climate change and continuing to invest in people, continuing to be there to support people. And I’m going to keep fighting,” he told Colbert.

Colbert pointed out the rise of fascism and xenophobia globally, mentioning that Trudeau’s opponent has been labeled “Canada’s Trump.” He questioned why such ideologies were gaining traction in a country known for its politeness.

Trudeau refrained from engaging with the Trump comparison, instead acknowledging that Canada has its flaws. He noted that universal health care took decades to establish and emphasized that leading the world in climate action is also a cause worth fighting for.

“There’s a big argument right now about whether dental care really exists. We’ve delivered it to 700,000 people across the country and my opponent is gaslighting us and saying, oh, dental care doesn’t even exist yet,” he stated.

In response to Conservative health critic Stephen Ellis’s claims that the government mishandled the dental program, asserting that most Canadians do not qualify and those who do may still incur out-of-pocket expenses, Trudeau maintained his position.

Colbert also brought up contentious issues between Canada and the U.S., such as the nearly doubled softwood lumber duty imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce in August. Trudeau countered that Americans are overpaying for lumber due to these tariffs.

When Colbert asked, “We come over the border for cheaper drugs. You guys happy with that?” Trudeau replied, “We’re happy to try and help you out but it would be really easier if you get universal health care,” drawing loud applause from the audience.