Trudeau says APEC adulation is an opportunity for Canada

Obama praised his younger counterpart, citing the “incredible excitement” generated by his campaign and predicting the new prime minister would “provide a great boost of energy and transform the Canadian political landscape”. He said he has invited Trudeau for a White House visit that will hopefully come early next year.

“I know Justin has to agree with what’s happened but we think that after that process has taken place Canada, the United States and the other countries that are here can establish the high standards agreement that protects labour, protects the environment, protects the kind of high value-added goods and services that we both excel in”, Obama said. A local newspaper featured photos of them at the top of the front page and a story headlined, “Girls only have eyes for Trudeau, Nieto”.

Obama echoed that, saying he was “glad” for both countries having “traditional fuels” but that they needed to push more into renewable fuels.

Justin, the oldest son of ex-PM Pierre Trudeau, said that he was committed to fighting climate change which is something that even Obama has pushed recently with the global climate talks coming up later on in the month.

Trudeau’s Liberals won power during elections last month with proposals to increase infrastructure spending and taxes on the wealthy, policies that have also been endorsed by the Obama administration.

As the USA and a host of other nations are looking to intensify the airstrikes against this militant group which has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks in Paris as well as shooting down a Russian jet, Canada is planning to shift its focus.

Trudeau says he plans to keep that promise.

“We have always had a sense of urgency about the need to defeat ISIL”, Obama said, saying the coalition, including Canada, has exerted steady pressure on the group.

“I’m pleased that Canada’s getting a little more attention right now, because it gives us an opportunity to highlight the issues that are important to us”, Trudeau said when asked about the culture of celebrity that enveloped him during the APEC summit. “I made a clear commitment to Canadians to withdraw the six fighter jets and we will be doing that”.

Trudeau said while travelling from Turkey to Manila that one of his priorities would be to talk about “a proper continental approach” in North America.