Justin Trudeau Says He Has No Regrets About Calling An Election During A Pandemic

Justin Trudeau has made it clear that he has no regrets about triggering a federal election during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite criticism from Canada's other major party leaders.

During a campaign stop on Friday, September 10, the Liberal leader was asked by a reporter whether he has any regrets about sending Canadians to the polls "in the middle of the fourth wave of the pandemic."

"No. Absolutely not," he responded, doubling down on his previous message that a federal election is essential ASAP.

"This is a time when Canadians should get to be very clear about how they want to end this pandemic, how they want to build back better for the future," he said.

"Whichever government they elect is going to be making decisions in the coming months — not a year from now, not two years from now, but now — about how we move forward."

When he announced an election back in August, the Liberal leader was blasted as "selfish" and "irresponsible" by some of his federal counterparts.

"I don't have the feeling that Trudeau is writing a page of history but a page of his own biography," suggested Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet at the time.

Green Party leader Annamie Paul added, "Now is not the time for a national election. We are still in a pandemic and have entered a fourth wave."

*This article's cover image is for illustrative purposes only.