Former foreign affairs minister Marc Garneau critiques Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for diminishing Canada’s global stature during his tenure, branding him as a leader “unprepared for the challenges of international relations”. Garneau, renowned for his distinguished career in the military and as an astronaut before entering politics, extensively reflects on his parliamentary experience in his upcoming memoir.
First elected in 2008 as the Liberal MP for Westmount-Ville Marie, Garneau transitioned from his own party leadership bid in 2013, to backing Trudeau for leader. Despite holding various roles in the Canadian government, including a brief stint as foreign affairs minister, Garneau notes his influence and advice were seldom sought or valued by Trudeau directly. Garneau’s own tenure as foreign affairs minister was notably brief, which he points to as proof of the instability in the Trudeau office.
In his memoir, Garneau highlights significant disagreements with Trudeau, particularly on those regarding foreign policy, citing a perceived lack of “strategic depth and consistency”. He criticizes Trudeau’s handling of trips to China and India as ineffective and poorly prepared which lead to diplomatic setbacks rather than relationship advancements. Garneau laments Trudeau’s delay in releasing updated national strategies for China and the Indo-Pacific, attributing the hesitation to political concerns rather than strategic foresight.
Garneau emphasizes a perceived centralization of power in Trudeau’s office, which he believes undermines the effectiveness of cabinet ministers and the coherence of Canadian foreign policy. Arguing that frequent turnover in the foreign affairs portfolio under Trudeau’s leadership has eroded Canada’s credibility on the global stage, Garneau writes, “I believe Justin Trudeau has overestimated Canada’s impact abroad.”
Overall, Garneau’s narrative depicts a Canadian government reactive and hesitant on the global front, compromising the nation’s international standing and effectiveness in pursuing strategic foreign policy objectives. However, amidst a tumultuous period for the Trudeau government marked by recent electoral losses and record-low poll ratings, Garneau has so far refrained from further comment on this aspect of his book, while Trudeau’s office remains silent on its contents.
In addition to politics, Garneau’s memoir also offers insight into other aspects of his own extraordinary life.
Written with a tone of sincerity and wit, A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream, covers a lot of material, from Garneau’s journey from as spirited teenager and rebellious naval midshipman to becoming a celebrated astronaut and influential statesman for Canada.
“The possibility of becoming an astronaut awakened something in me, and I couldn’t brush it off. Had the path I had chosen in my life prepared me for this moment? Did I have what it took? Although I was competitive by nature and tended to grab the bull by the horns, applying to become an astronaut was so extraordinary (and perhaps absurd) that I hesitated. Fear of failure can often hold us back.”
Published by Penguin Random House Canada, A Most Extraordinary Ride, will be released on October 8th 2024, and is now available for preorder.
An avid book reader and proud library card holder, Angela is new to the world of e-Readers. She has a background in education, emergency response, fitness, loves to be in nature, traveling and exploring. With an honours science degree in anthropology, Angela also studied writing after graduation. She has contributed work to The London Free Press, The Gazette, The Londoner, Best Version Media, Lifeliner, and Citymedia.ca.
