POL101: Politics in Canada - Current Events Research Project

This assignment is a research project analyzing five current events in Canadian politics. The student examines a magazine article on Justin Trudeau's political troubles, a press release from Trudeau, a political cartoon on Canada's trade with China, a blog post about student protests in Ontario, and another magazine article criticizing Trudeau's leadership style. Each item is analyzed for its main issue, significance, involved parties, and societal impact. The student identifies relevant class concepts such as political rituals, economic determinism, austerity measures, and civil society, defining them and applying them to the events. The analysis covers topics like the SNC-Lavalin scandal, trade relations, student protests against government cuts, and leadership styles, providing a comprehensive overview of contemporary Canadian political issues and connecting them to theoretical frameworks.

Running head: POLITICS IN CANADA
POLITICS IN CANADA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Magazine
Title- The Quick Read on Justin Trudeau's Mounting Political Troubles
Bremmer, I. (2019). http://time.com. Retrieved from http://time.com/5550984/justin-
trudeau-canada-snc-lavalin-scandal/
In this particular magazine article an account of the problems which are being faced by
the government headed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been provided. The article
mentions of one of the greatest political scandals that have raised a lot of political hue and cry in
the Canadian society. The controversy is centered around on a Quebec based firm dealing in
construction matters by the name SNC Lavalin. It has been accused of bribing the Colonel
Gaddafi regime in Libya to win lucrative government contracts. The former Attorney General of
Canada Jody Wilson-Rabould had said that she was pressurizedd by the administration headed
by Trudeau to solve the corruption charges of SNC Lavalin. It was a necessary move which
should have been avoided or else the company would have been barred from bidding on
government contracts any further. Consequently that would have caused harm to both the
company and the labourers working for it. This particular issue was a serious issue as a
significant amount of the laborers who work in the province of Quebec, which is also the home
province of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were employed with the SNC Lavalin and harm to the
organization would have meant a harm to the workers.
The theoretical premise of corruption and the nexus between government and private
enterprises for the securing of the political goals and the public private partnership basis of
conducting the economy to conduct the process of economy is very much evident from the
article. There is no bias in the magazine article but the stance taken by the author has been of

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being a critique of the government actions which is reflective of the spirit of democracy that
prevails in the nation.

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Press Release
Title- Justin Trudeau delivers remarks to supporters in Toronto
Justin Trudeau delivers remarks to supporters in Toronto. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.liberal.ca/justin-trudeau-delivers-remarks-to-supporters-in-toronto-5/
In this particular press release the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is also
the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, the event of him delivering several remarks to
supporters at an open Liberal fundraising event in Toronto on the fifth of April, 2019 has been
covered. The Liberal Party of Canada as per the account provided by the Prime Minister has
conveyed that he and his party has committed itself to the strongest standards in federal politics
of the nation for promoting more openness and a greater degree of transparency with regard to
the political fundraising events, and how he shall be spending the sum accumulated. Through this
political ritual the Prime Minister has not only tried to win over the masses but at the same time
he has posed a situation that seems to be challenging the other political parties of the nation to
act the same way. This particular event is of utmost importance to the general public as the
speech conveyed provides the information that it is for the sake of the general benefit.
The theoretic concept of political rituals which the politicians undertake to win over the
masses as a means to garner more vote is very much apt in this regard. Apart from that it is also
reflective of the concept that for gaining legitimacy in a democratic set up, the government has to
prove itself to the people. There is no political bias in the article as this is a press release and the
exact words of the Prime Minister has been quoted without making an effort to misquote it or
imbibing any agenda related ideology into it.

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Political Cartoon
Title- Canada’s canola conundrum has Trudeau pinned between China and U.S.
MacKay, G. (2019). Canada – mackaycartoons. Retrieved from
https://mackaycartoons.net/category/canada/
This particular political very satirically shows that trade and economy is the greatest
factor which defines political relations and diplomacy and also that it supercedes the political
correctness and the devotion of the politicians to serve the common good. Trade diversification
as envisaged should have made Canada less dependent on her neighboutr, the U.S. However as
the canola dispute shows, it has had a perverse effect. It has made this country more dependent

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on China. Beijing’s decision to ban two major Canadian companies from exporting canola to
China has Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government rattled.
This article is significant as this shows the importance of the concept of trade in
international relations and that by means of jeopardizing trade a nation can make another nation
act in a way that is favourable to them. Thus the concept of international trade and the role of
economic sanctions and diplomacy is very much apt in this regard to explain the situation. To
say that there is no bias in it would be wrong as satire has been presented and that cannot be
without any political bias. The maker of the cartoon espouses Marxist thought and the economic
determinism is very much evident in the cartoon.

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Blog
Title- Ontario Students Skip Class By The Thousands To Protest Ford Cuts
Ontario Students Skip Class By The Thousands To Protest Ford Cuts. (2019). Retrieved
from https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/04/05/ontario-students-skip-class-by-the-
thousands-to-protest-ford-cuts_a_23707142/?utm_hp_ref=ca-politics
This particular blog article is of utmost importance to the general interest as it showcases
the heated debate that is going on in Canada at this point of time with regard to the introduction
of the Ford’s policy of cutting down of the cost for the sake of better governance in the nation.
Thousands of Ontario students left classes at 1:25 p.m. on Thursday and walked out of their
schools. They were protesting changes to education announced by the government that would see
average class sizes increase by one student in grades 4 to 8, and from 22 to 28 students in high
school. Several school boards say it will lead to cuts in elective classes, including in art and
technology and those in the skilled trades. The student-led protest was organized via
spreadsheets passed among student leaders from Thunder Bay to Sudbury and Toronto, and
using social media to promote the cause. More than 650 schools registered to walk out,
according the Students Say No leader Thea Baines from Western Technical-Commercial School.
This particular article is of utmost importance as it is reflective of the concept of the
austerity measures imposed by the governments and also of the concept of a welfare state from
which there has been a departure. The political bias in this regard is that of being a liberal and
that of supporting the public against the wrong decisions of the government.

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Magazine
Title- Justin Trudeau Proves You Can't Lead Through Selfies
Pontofract, D. (2019). Justin Trudeau Proves You Can't Lead Through Selfies. Retrieved
from https://www.forbes.com/sites/danpontefract/2019/03/01/justin-trudeau-proves-you-
cant-lead-through-selfies/#45d837055fa4
This particular magazine article deals with the fact that it is not possible to rule without
being a responsible leader. The actions of Trudeau and his staff is a blatant disregard for ethics.
Some in Canada claim there is a constitutional crisis. I tend to agree with them. Since being
elected in 2015, Trudeau has garnered the support of many Canadians. He was young,
enthusiastic, and positive. He ushered in a breath of fresh air and optimism from the previous
government. The campaign was one of measured politics but also selfies.
This article has a political bias in it as it tends to be critical of Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau by saying that he has indulged in more of public relations campaign rather than
indulging in any fruitful work. The concept of a vibrant civil society and being critical of the
policies and actions of the government is very much immanent in the article. A democratic
society is supposed to be having a vibrant civil society which is supposed to be proactive in
criticizing the policies and actions of the government, if that is missing, then the society cannot
be called as democratic. This is the basic essence of the magazine article.