After almost a decade in power, Canada’s prime minister looks beleaguered
“My job is not to be popular.” Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister (pictured), spent much of March explaining himself as he fought a revolt against an increase to the country’s carbon tax. On his own terms, and few others, Mr Trudeau is succeeding. Both his Liberal Party and the tax—which increased from C$65 to C$80 ($59) per tonne of CO2 equivalent on April 1st—are unloved. Mr Trudeau survived a no-confidence vote ahead of the increase, but the debate it sparked has added to the burdens of a prime minister who is staggering through his ninth year in power.
The cost of housing is rising fast. Canadians, in particular young ones, are increasingly unhappy relative to the rest of the world. The left of Mr Trudeau’s coalition is rebelling against his government’s stance on the conflict in Gaza. The popularity of his rival, Pierre Poilievre, is growing—the Conservative Party has enjoyed a double-digit lead in voter intention surveys for several months (see chart).