5 reasons the U.S. should care about Canada’s new prime minister

Canada just elected its first new leader after nearly a decade of Conservative Party rule. Here are five ways Liberal Party leader and soon-to-be prime minister Justin Trudeau is likely to affect policies in Canada and the United States.

THE ECONOMY

Trudeau, 43, has pledged to increase deficit spending on major infrastructure projects to kickstart Canada’s sagging economy. He says Canada’s fortunes won’t improve unless its chooses economic stimulus over a balanced budget, which he has vowed to achieve by 2020. A stronger Canada helps the USA because they are huge trading partners.

TAXES

Trudeau has pledged to hike taxes for Canada’s top 1% of earners and cut taxes for the middle class, although he has been vague on how he defines middle class. According to Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper, those who earn over $200,000 will see their taxes go up by about 4% under his plan.

MARIJUANA

Trudeau says he wants to legalize the drug “right away,” a position that provoked ridicule from political opponents during the election campaign. However, he has been vague on the details of his legalization program, including how it would be taxed and possible transport across the U.S.-Canadian border.

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE

Trudeau supports the proposed oil pipeline system that would run about 1,200 miles from Canada to Nebraska, but he is less of a cheerleader for the idea than outgoing leader Stephen Harper. He is worried about the environmental impact and has called for better safety standards. He opposes a separate project for energy products to be piped from Alberta to British Columbia.

U.S. RELATIONS

Trudeau promised to improve strained relations with President Obama, who has not embraced the Keystone pipeline project. Trudeau also said he wants to find constructive ways of working with Washington on other issues. That should be easier since the Liberal leader and Obama are closer in political philosophy than were Obama and Harper.

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