Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre for his comments on the government being “too woke” during the 2023 national convention of the Liberal Party in Ottawa. Trudeau stated that Poilievre needs to “wake up” himself and understand the importance of a gender-balanced cabinet and women’s participation in the workforce. He also emphasized that the Conservatives should recognize the benefits of their policies, such as reducing poverty levels among persons with disabilities and providing affordable childcare. Trudeau further criticized Poilievre for his calls to defund the CBC and claimed that the questions asked by Conservative MPs in the House of Commons do not reflect Canadian concerns. Despite the recent controversy over Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family being targeted by Beijing, Trudeau did not address this issue during his speech.
Poilievre has previously denounced the government’s decision-making based on “woke” principles and criticized the recently passed Bill C-11. He defined the term “woke” as a way to divide individuals based on factors such as race and religion.
Towards the end of his address, Trudeau announced his intention to lead the Liberal party in the upcoming general election.