Justin Trudeau, a former teacher, spent part of his first day as prime minister answering the questions of students at five schools across the country, while more than 1,000 people followed along online.
Trudeau 鈥� who symbolically awarded himself the portfolio of youth on Wednesday -- started the by saying he intends to engage younger people in the political process and that politics should not be about 鈥渟peeches,鈥� but about a 鈥渄ialogue.鈥�
In his first answer, it was clear Trudeau just came off a long election campaign, where reporters were trying to knock him off message. He didn鈥檛 offer any specifics Wednesday when asked by a girl from Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay, Nunavut, 鈥渨hat he knows about Inuit culture.鈥�
Trudeau instead responded he has a 鈥渓ove for the North鈥� and has visited many times. 鈥淭he fact is, Canada is a country that needs to do a better job of giving opportunities and support to people who live in the North,鈥� he added.
Next came a question in French on immigration from a boy at Winnipeg鈥檚 Ecole Romeo-Dallaire. Trudeau said Canada is a strong country because of its differences, noting he is aware of the financial barriers some immigrants face.
Next, the Prime Minister was grilled by a young woman at Lawrence Heights Middle School in Toronto about his plan to lower taxes for middle-class Canadians. She wanted to know if it would it help end poverty for 鈥渢he lower classes鈥� and 鈥減eople on the streets?鈥�
Trudeau answered that his 鈥渕ore generous鈥� child benefit cheques will 鈥渓ift 315,000 kids out of poverty鈥� and that he is committed to 鈥渋nvesting in social housing and shelters鈥� and a 鈥渉ousing-first strategy to combat homelessness.鈥�
Next, he was asked by a boy at Ecole du Dome in Gatineau, Que., about his promise to make Parks Canada admission free in 2017. He said he is committed to the plan.
Finally, an Aboriginal student at Membertou Elementary School in Sydney, N.S., asked what the Prime Minister enjoyed most about teaching, and how he can use those skills while serving in the country鈥檚 top office.
Trudeau said being a teacher allowed him to 鈥渦nderstand complex issues and break them down in a way that individuals can understand and be empowered by.鈥�
鈥淎 good teacher is not someone who stands up at the front of the class and gives out all the answers,鈥� he added. 鈥淎 good teacher is someone who knows the challenges their students are facing and helps them solve those challenges and get their answers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about having answers, it鈥檚 about making sure we鈥檙e giving the tools to citizens to be able to create answers and to succeed,鈥� Trudeau went on.
鈥淎 good teacher is someone with as many questions as they have answers and who listens as much as they speak,鈥� he said, adding a 鈥済ood politician鈥� does the same.
鈥淭hat, for me, is what I鈥檓 going to try and do and focus on doing as a prime minister.鈥�
