Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced criticism during a photo op from a steelworker struggling to make ends meet. The worker, from Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario, confronted Trudeau, rejecting his offer of doughnuts to complain about high taxes, medical bills, and what he saw as handouts to the "lazy."
"The 25% tariffs we just brought in will help you out," Trudeau said. "That's going to keep your job."
The steelworker was unimpressed. "What about the 40% taxes I am paying? And I don't have a doctor," he shot back.
Trudeau highlighted a government investment, assuring the man he'd have a job "for many years." The worker wasn't convinced, saying he expected Trudeau to be voted out.
"That's what elections are for," Trudeau replied, staying composed. "We are going to invest in you and your job."
"I don't believe you for a second," the man retorted.
The worker also voiced frustration about access to healthcare, suggesting unemployed Canadians had it easier. "Probably like my neighbor who doesn’t go to work because she’s lazy?" he asked.
Trudeau defended Canadians' efforts to support each other, wishing the man good luck. But the encounter ended tensely, with the worker seemingly refusing Trudeau's handshake.
The next Canadian federal election is set for October 20, 2025. Despite the cost-of-living crisis, Trudeau remains hopeful, pointing to a drop in inflation. "But, until Canadians can feel that relief in their wallets... the job’s not done," he wrote on Facebook.