Prime Minister Justin Trudeau adopted a conciliatory and hopeful tone in his annual Christmas message as he faces growing calls to resign and questions about his leadership future.
Trudeau posted a video onformerly known as Twitter, wished everyone a Merry Christmas on Wednesday morning and urged Canadians to check in on those who may be going through a “very difficult time.”
“It’s the time of year to slow down, rest and connect with the people you love most,” Trudeau said.
“It’s time to put down our phones, put our politics aside, even if this cousin makes it really difficult, and focus on what matters.”
Trudeau said that while the holidays are a time of celebration, for people who are grieving, worried or alone, it can be “the most difficult time of the year.”
“So let’s all check in on the people in our lives who haven’t had an easy time this year and who maybe need us more than we think,” he added.
Trudeau also thanked and paid tribute to first responders, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, health-care workers, essential workers and others at work during the holidays.
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“You embody what Christmas is truly about: providing gifts, food and services to those around us,” he said.
“I wish joy to all those celebrating today and comfort to those who are suffering, wherever you are. I hope you find light and hope for the year ahead. Merry Christmas.”
Trudeau left for the holidays after a chaotic week for the Liberals, which saw Chrystia Freeland resigns from federal cabinet in a surprise announcement on December 16.
A few days later, Trudeau reshuffled his cabinetappointing eight new ministers and reassigning four other existing cabinet members.
Freeland’s resignation threw the government into chaos. Since then, a growing number of Liberal MPs have publicly called out Trudeau. step aside and make way for a new leader.
Meanwhile, a recent Ipsos poll conducted exclusively for Global News also shows a decline in popularity for Trudeau and the Liberals.
Nearly three-quarters of Canadians said in the Ipsos poll published Friday that Trudeau should resign, while support for the Liberals is at a near-historic low of just 20 percent.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also wished Canadians a Merry Christmas and expressed gratitude to those who “give up their Christmas in the service of others.”
“Today, we think of the Canadians who give up their Christmas in service to others – our emergency services, our essential workers and especially the brave men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces. » he wrote in an article on X.
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh shared a video in which he holds his daughter.
He said “it has been a difficult year and for many families this festive period and Christmas has been a time of making sacrifices”.
Singh pledged to continue his fight to make life more affordable for Canadians.
“I want you to know that I see you and I will continue to fight for you. Fight to make life more affordable, to lower the price of groceries, to build homes you can afford.
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