Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau encountered a disgruntled steelworker during a photo opportunity in Sault Ste. Marie, a city struggling with economic hardship. The worker, who remained unidentified, voiced his frustration with Trudeau’s policies, arguing that they had left his family struggling to make ends meet. The tense exchange, which went viral online, unfolded as the worker rejected Trudeau’s offer of doughnuts to express his grievances about high taxes, medical bills, and government assistance for those he deemed “lazy.”

“The 25% tariffs we just brought in is going to help you out … that’s going to keep your job,” Trudeau told the man.

“What about the 40% taxes I am paying? And I don’t have a doctor,” the Algoma Steel employee retorted.

Trudeau countered by highlighting a multimillion-dollar government investment, claiming it would secure the man’s employment “for many years to come.” However, the worker remained unconvinced, predicting Trudeau’s electoral defeat.

“That’s what elections are for,” replied the Liberal Party leader, maintaining composure throughout the exchange. “I look forward to everyone exercising the right to vote. … We are going to invest in you and your job.”

“I don’t believe you for a second,” the steelworker shot back.

The worker further expressed his belief that unemployed Canadians had better access to affordable healthcare than he did, referencing Trudeau’s initiative to expand dental care for hundreds of thousands of Canadians.

“Probably like my neighbor who doesn’t go to work because she’s lazy?” the steelworker asked.

“You know what? Most Canadians try to stick up for each other, and that’s what we’ve got to keep doing,” Trudeau responded, concluding with a well-wish for the man. In the end, the laborer seemingly refused to shake Trudeau’s hand.

The next Canadian federal election is scheduled for October 20, 2025. Trudeau’s government has faced criticism amidst a nationwide cost-of-living crisis, although Trudeau remains optimistic.

“Inflation came down last month, beating out expectations,” the prime minister wrote in a Facebook post on July 17. “But, until Canadians can feel that relief in their wallets, at the grocery store, and on their mortgages, the job’s not done.”

Digital reached out to Trudeau’s office for comment.