Justin Trudeau would loosen PMO control, reverse trend started by father

JustinTrudeausays he would loosen the tight grip the Prime Minister's Office has come to have on government, reversinga trend he admits beganwith hisfather, the former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

"Well, one of the things that we've seen throughout the past decades ingovernment is the trend towards more control from the Prime Minister's Office," Trudeau told CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge in an interview for The National on Tuesday. "Actually itcan be traced as far back as my father, who kicked it off in the first place.

"And I think we've reached the end point on that."

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Speaking about openness and transparency in government,Trudeausaid that although it's "generally understood" his fatherstarted that control in the Prime Minister's Office,"I actually quite like the symmetry of me being the one who endsthat."

"My father had a particular way of doing things.I have a different way, and his was suited to his time and mine is suited to my time. I believe that we need to trust Canadians. I believe that it's not just about restoring Canadians' trust in government by demonstrating trust towards them, I think we get better public policywhen it's done openly and transparently."

Trudeaualso appearsto be at odds with his father's thinking and more in line with that of his political rivalConservative Leader Stephen Harperover which party should get the first chance at governing in a minority government situation.

The party that receivesthe most seats on Oct. 19should get the first opportunityto govern, Trudeau said. During the 1979 campaign, his father hadsuggested that it's not automatic and the governingparty has a right to see what its options are before ceding power.

The Liberal leader said he couldn't choose between the Conservatives orNDP to give or receive support and wouldn't choose a "lesserof two evils."

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"I think both of their positions are wrong. Both of them want to continue a failed approach on austerity and cuts that Canada doesn't need, and that's why I'm confident that Canadians are going to pick the idea that we invest in our own future, and that we create growth once again."

About Bill C-51, the controversialanti-terrorism bill, Trudeau said he didn't regret his decision to back the legislation, a move that mayhave cost him some support, particularly among criticswho argue the bill is draconian and a threat to personal freedoms.

But Trudeau said thatif elected, hisgovernment wouldwithin the first few monthsamend the bill to bring in greater parliamentaryoversight and toreview clauses and sunset clauses.

Rivals fear-mongering

"Now, Mr. Harperwants us to be fearful that there might be a terrorist hiding behind any given tree. Mr. Mulcairwants us to be fearful for our rights and freedoms. I've said no, we're going to do those both together, and we're going to do it in a responsible way," Trudeau said.

On the economy, Trudeau said his first stepwould be to call together the premiers to discussintra-provincial trade barriers, infrastructure projectsand climate change. His government would roll out about $5 billionmore in infrastructure spending in thefirst budget.

"In order to build the kind of prosperous future that this country needs, we need to move away from the kind of solo leadership that Mr. Harperhas specialized in, where he won't talk to the provinces, where he will not engage in partnerships with municipalities."

Mansbridge took Trudeau though a series of programs implemented by Harper's government and askedwhat he would do with them if his party takes power.

Taxing top income earners

The child care benefit would be increased and madetax freefor everyone earning less than $150,000 in family income, Trudeausaid, and he wouldscrap thatsubsidyfor thoseearning more than $200,000 a year. He said he would repeal income splitting and also cut in half Harper's recentdoubling of the tax free savings accountlimit to $10,000.

Canada's corporate tax rates would remain the same, Trudeau said, as would theGST. But he may tweak the small business tax rates.

"Alarge percentage of small businesses are actually just ways for wealthier Canadians to save on their taxes, and we want to reward the people who are actually creating jobs, and contributing in concrete ways. So there's a little tweaking to do around that."

Trudeau, who has said he will run deficits for three years to spend more money on infrastructure, was askedwhether he's trying to outflankthe NDP on the left.

"I'm not worried too much about left-right spectrum, I'm worried about what's actually going to work to help Canadians who are worried about their own jobs, about their kids' jobs."