Obama endorses Trudeau for election

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has endorsed federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau ahead of the September 20 election.

“Wishing my friend Justin Trudeau the best in Canada’s upcoming election,” Obama wrote on Twitter Thursday. “Justin has been an effective leader and strong voice for democratic values, and I’m proud of the work we did together.”

Trudeau assumed office when there was just over a year left in Obama’s term. The Liberal Leader responded to Obama’s tweet, saying: “Thanks for your support, Barack Obama. Progress is on the ballot – and we’re going to keep fighting for it.”

This isn’t the first time Trudeau has received a endorsement from the former U.S. President - Obama did the same thing in 2019, stating that he was “proud to work with Justin Trudeau as President.”

“He’s a hard-working, effective leader who takes on big issues like climate change. The world needs his progressive leadership now, and I hope our neighbours to the north support him for another term.”

Trudeau responded that election with his own tweet, writing, “Thanks, my friend, we’re working hard to keep our progress going.”

With just a couple days to go until the election, Liberal Leader Trudeau has targeted conservative politicians across the country over the pandemic, questioning Canadians about whether Tory Leader Erin O’Toole should be sitting across from them at the premiers’ table.

“Just a few days ago, Mr. O’Toole was still applauding Mr. Kenney for his management of the pandemic,” Trudeau said in Montreal, claiming that “anti-vaxxers within his own party run the show.”

“He won’t demand that all his candidates get vaccinated. He doesn’t criticize his candidate who wasn’t fully vaccinated who goes into seniors’ homes,” he said, referring to Michelle Ferreri, the Tory candidate for Peterborough-Kawartha who posted photos of herself to social media canvassing in a retirement residence despite having received only one shot.