Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came under fire during a heated parliamentary debate after using the term “brokenist” while defending his government’s record on immigration and economic policies. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre seized the moment to ridicule the beleaguered PM, accusing him of “breaking” not only Canada’s immigration and housing systems but even the English language.
The political exchange unfolded as Poilievre criticized Trudeau’s handling of Canada’s housing affordability crisis, pointing to high property prices, rising interest rates, and an unprecedented influx of immigrants. Poilievre, the Conservative leader, argued that Trudeau “cannot fix what he broke” because of internal strife within his Liberal party, further suggesting that the Prime Minister’s focus on fighting his own caucus was hindering his ability to solve the country’s pressing issues.
“He (Trudeau) cannot fix what he broke on immigration, housing, or anything else because he is busy fighting his own caucus,” Poilievre said, calling on Trudeau to hold a carbon tax election and restore Canada’s promise where “anyone who works hard can have a good life, a safe street, and a warm home.”
Trudeau, in his defense, claimed that Poilievre was pushing a distorted “brokenist” vision of Canada that did not align with reality. His use of the word “brokenist” immediately drew mockery from Poilievre, who pointed out that it wasn’t even a legitimate word. “He’s even breaking the English language,” Poilievre quipped, sparking laughter from opposition MPs.
However, political observers note that Trudeau’s hold on the party is weakening amid concerns about his handling of key national issues, including housing affordability, immigration, and Canada’s strained foreign relations.
While Trudeau’s government has introduced various measures to address housing challenges, including funding for affordable housing and incentives for first-time homebuyers, these efforts have been largely overshadowed by the scale of the crisis.
For now, the clash in Parliament over his “brokenist” comment symbolizes a deeper political divide, with Trudeau fighting to maintain his leadership as opposition leaders capitalize on his missteps. The question of whether Trudeau can recover in time for the next election, or if his internal critics will succeed in pushing him aside, is likely to dominate Canadian politics in the coming months.