Q&A: Western Liberal pres on why you should vote to re-elect – The Gazette Western University’s Newspaper

Elections always centre around the incumbent especially this year, after photos appeared of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in blackface and brownface.

It was another controversy for the Liberal leader, whose platform pledges a number of supports for students.

The president of the Western Liberals club, Robert Belanger-Polak, spoke with Gazette Opinions Editor, Hope Mahood, about how students should think about the PM. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How did you react when you found out Trudeau did brownface?

Just the brownface? Well, I did find it disappointing. It was an unfortunate thing to have had happen. Personally I dont agree with it at all. But I do think the Prime Minister has done a pretty good job with diversity and inclusion and promoting values within the last four years.

And it seems like its going to be a big push in the current iteration of the Liberal platform, which should be good. I think there will be a net positive, for lack of a better word, in opposition to what he did previously.

What do you think of his apology then?

Well I cant recall his apology word-for-word, which is too bad, but its one of those scenarios where an apology cant really suffice. Its one of those things that you have to, I think, prove different with actions.

Im sure you know the liberals are being attacked on two fronts right now when it comes to climate change. Theres the NDP whore mad with them for buying the trans-mountain pipeline, and then theres the Conservatives who are upset with the carbon price.

Yep.

Which of these criticisms do you think is more valid?

So I think, in a way they both have validity. And I think theres probably more validity from the left criticisms we need to do more, and I think thats something myself and the party agrees with. I think were taking steps to get there, but its also a matter of making sure our climate plan is feasible, so appeasing the criticism from the right. And also making sure that we move forward with the necessary precautions.

So making sure that the plan will have tangible effects making sure that Canada has net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. And you know there are other things the Liberals are doing that I think make them pretty good for the climate change plan.

And Trudeau announced that hed make changes to student loans in light of Ontarios OSAP cuts. Should the Federal government be inserting itself into provincial policies?

I think thats a good question. I dont know if its inserting though Id say that the Liberals are covering up where they believe there to be deficits theyre not taking over it or anything, right?

But theyre going ahead and saying things like theyll provide 1,200 more in student grants and were going to make the loans you receive from us so that, if youre making under 35 thousand, you wont have to pay them back until you are making above that or if after two years of graduation you have to start paying them back and its all interest free. I do think it is a positive policy to implement.

I guess there is an elephant in the room question then can Canada afford all this?

I guess that is a common criticism when we have a bunch of fun, good policy proposals where is the money coming from? how are we going to pay for everything? One of the fun things in the platform well, I guess its not fun, but its cool you can see the platform is actually fully costed.

I dont know how tax is going to come into play but I do know the platform does have a breakdown of everything so I think it will be cool. I guess the flipside is with other parties policies cutting things, like when you have one party proposing $41 billion in cuts you have to ask where are the cuts coming from what services are not going to be provided?