Justin Trudeau 2004 - 2025

A Cartoon Chronology | Sunday March 9, 2025 | Newsletter 20

A Cartoon Chronology | Sunday March 9, 2025 | Newsletter 20

As Justin Trudeau’s tenure as Canada’s Prime Minister comes to its end, the legacy he leaves is one of significant achievements, notable controversies, and enduring challenges. Over the past decade, Trudeau’s leadership has been a focal point for both admiration and criticism, capturing the complexities of his role in Canadian politics. As an editorial cartoonist, I have spent two decades chronicling his political journey, each cartoon encapsulating pivotal moments from his rise in 2015 to his leadership milestones and the trials he has faced.

My perspective was shaped by an unforgettable moment at the 2012 convention of the Association of Canadian Cartoonists in Montreal. During this event, Trudeau, then a backbench MP, mingled with us, embodying a blend of charisma and strategic foresight. In a memorable theatrical gesture, he donned his father’s iconic buckskin coat, declaring with a grin, “The jacket fits,” symbolizing his embrace of legacy and hinting at his political ambitions. This charming performance was an early indicator of his potential to lead the Liberal Party, foreshadowing the influential role he would come to play in shaping Canada’s political landscape. Charming, though not to the extent that I was ever lenient to the poor fellow. Through my cartoons, I’ve captured the essence of Trudeau’s journey, from my viewpoint, reflecting on the lasting impact he has made on the nation.

October 23, 2004 – Legacy matrimonial

This is my first drawing of Justin Trudeau capturing the occasion of his marriage to Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. Beside him looms a hulking monument to his father, the elder Trudeau, symbolizing the enigma and legacy that accompany Justin. The humour in this piece lies in the idea that with the marriage came the Trudeau legacy, hinting at Justin’s future path and the destiny seemingly foretold by his riding on his father’s coattails to power, which he achieved a decade later. Sadly, the bonds of marriage did not endure, and the couple eventually faced divorce, adding another layer to the complexities of his personal and political journey.

January 12, 2007 – Team… it is Time

As his path to leadership became clearer, Justin Trudeau emerged during a time when the Liberal government under Paul Martin was faltering. The power wielded by the party since Jean Chrétien’s era was waning, and Trudeau, young and charismatic, with his iconic hair and appeal, became the face of a new generation. By January 12, 2007, he was the rising star ready to fill the political void in the riding of Outremont, embodying both his father’s legacy and his own promise of renewed leadership for the Liberals.

September 28, 2012 – Trudeau parting the Liberal Red Sea

The Liberal Party, bruised from the faltering leaderships of Stéphane Dion and Michael Ignatieff, was ready for a new icon. Enter Justin Trudeau, likened to Moses parting the Red Sea, symbolizing his rise as a potential saviour for the party. Amidst the wave of “Justinmania,” he stood out among other hopefuls, signalling his readiness to lead with charisma and youthful vigour. Interestingly, as Trudeau made his move, Mark Carney, the central banker, was parting ways on the right, set to take on new challenges as Trudeau stepped into the spotlight.

November 17, 2015 – Growing into Defence

Justin Trudeau had just taken power and announced plans at a G20 summit for Canada to withdraw warplanes from ISIS combat missions, shifting focus to training local troops instead. This decision highlighted his preference for a more cautious, resistance-oriented approach to military involvement. His stance with NATO further underscored this, as he openly acknowledged at meetings that Canada had no intention of meeting the alliance’s spending commitments. These decisions would later be scrutinized, especially as geopolitical tensions evolved, and Canada became relegated to bit player status in global strategy. A decade later, in 2025, with figures like Trump influencing global politics, Trudeau’s earlier choices might be seen as missteps, potentially weakening Canada’s standing in international defence and diplomacy.

May 20, 2016 – Elbowgate

An involved Justin Trudeau in a commotion in the House of Commons. While trying to expedite a vote on Bill C-14 regarding physician-assisted death, Trudeau accidentally elbowed NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau while attempting to guide Conservative MP Gord Brown through a group of NDP MPs. This led to significant criticism and multiple apologies from Trudeau. The cartoon depicting Trudeau in King Henry VIII garb, took inspiration from the miniseries “The Tudors”, with the parody “The Trudors,” contextualizing the dramatic nature of the event and Trudeau’s subsequent apologies, using the historical drama as a backdrop to highlight the theatrical aspects of the political mishap. I’ve depicted him as a King dealing with revolt, and alongside his royal family. In terms of the real monarchy, sometimes he got along, sometimes not so much.

June 22, 2018: Prime Minister of Pot

Justin Trudeau is often celebrated for his role in legalizing cannabis in Canada, a move that aligned with global trends as other countries and several U.S. states had already moved in this direction. Recognizing the progressive momentum, Trudeau’s government made cannabis legalization official, marking a historic moment for the nation. Trudeau, adorned in cannabis-themed robes captures the excitement and significance of ending nearly a century of prohibition, highlighting the cultural and political impact of this milestone in Canadian history. Though there are critics, the cartoon underscores the celebratory atmosphere surrounding this transformative policy change, and for many, the one and only consequential legacy for this Prime Minister.

May 28, 2019: Politics done as always

Justin Trudeau, who declared himself a feminist Prime Minister by establishing a gender-balanced cabinet, faced challenges to this agenda during the SNC-Lavalin scandal. The cartoon illustrates cracks in his feminist stance, highlighted by the resignations of Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott. These high-profile departures exposed tensions in achieving gender-balanced governance, as both women chose to run as independents, expressing dissatisfaction with party politics. This moment questioned the depth of Trudeau’s feminist commitments, capturing a significant discourse on gender and politics in Canada.

July 23, 2019: Boil Water Advisory

The cartoon depicts Justin Trudeau as the “Little Hero of Reconciliation,” suggesting that while he addresses minor issues, major concerns like clean water access in Indigenous communities persist. This criticism points to ongoing struggles in achieving genuine reconciliation and fuels accusations that Trudeau is more of a virtue signaller than a doer. Despite receiving credit for highlighting the struggles of Indigenous peoples, he is seen as falling short in tackling the more challenging calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, reflecting a gap between his public commitments and substantive action.

April 11, 2018: The Green Transition PM

The cartoon illustrates Trudeau’s carbon pricing plan as a split personality, reflecting the balancing act between environmental goals and controversial oil subsidies. This depiction captures the tension in his energy strategy, especially concerning the Trans Mountain pipeline during his tenure. While Trudeau’s government is credited for implementing a carbon pricing mechanism and committing to net-zero emissions in alignment with the Paris Agreement, the green transition is complicated by billions of federal dollars in subsidies to the oil and gas sector. Added to the ire, carve outs for regions that just so happen to overwhelmingly vote Liberal. This dual approach underscores the challenges of pursuing environmental ambitions while navigating economic and industry pressures.

March 7, 2019: Sinking of The SNC Lavalin Scandal

The SNC-Lavalin scandal is symbolized by a sinking ship, with Trudeau rowing away in a lifeboat, his principal secretary and confidant, Gerald Butts, is depicted as the captain going down with the ship. This imagery portrays Butts as the sacrificial lamb, absorbing some of the political fallout to shield Trudeau. Despite this significant resignation, Trudeau managed to survive the controversy, and the scandal eventually faded after the Liberals retained power in the following federal election. This highlights the shifting dynamics within Trudeau’s inner circle and the broader political landscape.

September 11, 2020: WE do it all for you (and me)

WE Charity in dust, shows the Kielburger brothers running a fast-food restaurant, symbolizing the charity’s dissolution and the ethical issues that surfaced within Trudeau’s administration. This imagery challenges the integrity of Trudeau’s leadership, reflecting the broader perception of scandals during his tenure. A poll conducted by Angus-Reid as Trudeau’s era drew to a close revealed that respondents most remembered his leadership for COVID-19, followed closely by themes of scandal and corruption, including the WE Charity, SNC-Lavalin, and Blackface incidents. These controversies have left a lasting impression on Trudeau’s legacy, highlighting the challenges faced by his administration in maintaining public trust.

March 20, 2021: Vaccine life support

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a significant vulnerability in Canada’s healthcare infrastructure: the glaring lack of domestic vaccine production capability. Procurement was slow. This limitation became evident as Canada relied heavily on international partners, particularly the U.S., for vaccine doses. Then there was mixing of vaccine remedies. The situation underscored the importance of investing in domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing to enhance self-sufficiency and preparedness for future health crises. This realization has likely prompted discussions about strengthening Canada’s domestic production capacity to ensure greater resilience in the face of global health challenges.

June 2, 2021: Gesture Politician

During his tenure, Justin Trudeau presided over a period of national self-reflection, and self-loathing, marked by actions like the toppling of Sir John A. Macdonald statues, as Canada confronted its colonial past and injustices against Indigenous peoples. The historical investigative review of Prime Ministerial misdeeds could be best described as ‘selective’ for MacKenzie King up to Jean Chretien. While Trudeau emphasized reconciliation through symbolic gestures, his pandemic measures were viewed by some as overbearing, turning him into a lightning rod for criticism among Canadians discontented with both his handling of historical wrongs and his approach to the COVID-19 crisis from pretty vicious anti-vaxxers.

August 26, 2021: The Great (Non) Communicator

Justin Trudeau’s leadership reflects a complex interplay between his housing crisis management, immigration policy, and the symbolic state of the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex. By increasing immigration levels without provincial capacity guarantees, the housing market and essential services have faced added strain. His national housing plan sought to alleviate these pressures by making homeownership more attainable amid rising demand and prices. Meanwhile, his decision not to renovate 24 Sussex symbolizes fiscal restraint but contrasts with the broader housing challenges. This situation underscores the need for coordinated federal and provincial efforts to ensure sustainable growth and livable conditions for all Canadians. It’s one of many examples when message and consensus building from the Prime Minister’s office was severely lacking, and had tragic consequences.

February 29, 2024: Serviette Policy Planning

The cartoon critiques Justin Trudeau’s governance style as one characterized by costly and hasty decisions, aimed at securing support from the NDP in a minority parliament. It highlights a series of expensive policy plans and missteps, including Pharmacare, Dentalcare, Childcare, poor accounting of CERB, the migrant influx, and the ArriveCan app. These initiatives are portrayed as rushed and inadequately planned, akin to “napkin-sketched” ideas such as the Pharmacare deal, reflecting a pattern of expensive schemes. The cartoon urges Canadians to demand greater accountability and transparency from the government, emphasizing the need for well-considered and fiscally responsible policymaking.

Justin Trudeau's years in office have been a blend of ambitious goals, personal milestones, and political challenges. His rise, buoyed by his father's legacy, led to a leadership marked by both achievements and controversies. Trudeau advanced progressive policies like cannabis legalization and a gender-balanced cabinet, but faced criticism for scandals such as SNC-Lavalin and WE Charity, along with policy decisions perceived as rushed, half-baked, or poorly executed. Not delivering on electoral reform remains one of his notable shortcomings.

His approach to immigration, healthcare, and environmental policies illustrates a complex balance between ideals and practical governance. While his legacy includes significant strides in social and environmental areas, it is also shaped by controversies, embarrassments, and criticisms. As he leaves office on a too little, too late note, he addresses challenges from Donald Trump's aggressive rhetoric, yet his prolonged tenure has left Canada with a prorogued Parliament and economic, social, and military conditions that have drawn the attention of a lunatic U.S. President.

A complete collection of my Trudeau editorial cartoons is posted to MacKayCartoons.net.

Trudeau's leadership highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and strategic planning to ensure a resilient and inclusive future for Canada.

Thank you to everyone who continues to subscribe to this weekly newsletter! I typically release posts every Saturday morning, offering a summary of the week through my editorial cartoons. My aim is to keep you informed without overwhelming you with constant notifications. Throughout the week, I also share daily ‘notes’ on my Substack, which enrich my weekly newsletters and feature animated versions of my daily cartoons.