Breaking: Justin Trudeau Unveils Sweeping New Housing Plan—How It Could Change Canada Overnight

MONTREAL—For the first time in more than a decade, Canada’s Liberal Party is gathering for a national policy convention without Justin Trudeau at the helm, yet the former prime minister’s influence still looms large on the convention floor. In a prerecorded video played during Friday’s opening session, Trudeau urged delegates to “keep building a Canada where everyone belongs, because the more diverse we are, the stronger we are.” The brief but emotional message drew a standing ovation from the 4,000-plus attendees and immediately trended across social platforms. Trudeau has kept a low public profile since handing over the keys to 24 Sussex Drive last year, when Mark Carney was chosen Liberal leader and sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister. Even so, party officials say Trudeau’s fundraising lists, volunteer networks and policy fingerprints remain central to the Liberals’ push for a fresh majority in the next federal election. Convention buzz: legacy and next steps • Climate and affordability: Delegates are debating whether to double the national carbon rebate for low- and middle-income Canadians, a program first introduced by Trudeau in 2019. • Reconciliation: Indigenous leaders applauded the former PM’s recent address to the Assembly of First Nations, where he called for accelerating clean-water commitments on reserves. • Youth vote: Campaign strategists are testing TikTok ads that juxtapose Trudeau-era tuition freezes with Carney’s new “Learn and Earn” apprenticeship tax credit. Why Trudeau still matters Search interest in “Justin Trudeau” spiked 230 percent in Canada and 110 percent worldwide within two hours of his video airing, underscoring the draw he still commands among both supporters and critics. Analysts say the Liberals hope to harness that spotlight while allowing Carney to present himself as a steady economic manager focused on inflation and housing supply. Opposition response Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre accused the Liberals of “rehashing the same failed Trudeau policies,” pointing to Canada’s widening affordability gap. New Democrats, meanwhile, said Trudeau’s virtual cameo showed the Liberals “haven’t moved on from celebrity politics.” What’s next Trudeau is expected to re-emerge on the public circuit this summer with a series of university lectures on democratic resilience, but aides insist he has “no intention of returning to elected life.” For now, Liberals in Montreal are betting that a dash of Trudeau star power—served virtually—is still the secret sauce for mobilizing their base in 2026.