Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau found himself the target of sharp jabs in Parliament on Wednesday, as he attempted to defend his government’s record on immigration. In the midst of a heated debate, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre tore into Trudeau, blaming him for the ongoing housing crisis, claiming the PM “cannot fix what he broke because he’s busy fighting his own caucus.”
But what really got people talking wasn’t the debate on policy — it was Trudeau’s unexpected vocabulary blunder.
‘Brokenist’ — Is that even a word?
As Trudeau delivered a passionate rebuttal, he accused Poilievre of promoting a “brokenist” vision of Canada. The word instantly became the highlight of the day. Poilievre, with a grin, responded, “Mr Speaker, ‘brokenist,’ it’s not even a word. He’s even breaking the English language.”
That quip set the internet on fire. Social media was ablaze with memes mocking the Prime Minister’s creative use of language. “Here we go, folks. ‘Brokenist,’ the latest addition to Trudeau’s dictionary,” one user joked on X (formerly known as Twitter). Another chimed in, “Did I miss a memo? Is ‘brokenist’ a thing now?”
Meme explosion: Trudeau’s linguistic faux pas
New Trudeau’s ‘brokenist’ moment quickly turned into meme material, with users having a field day mocking the PM’s slip-up. “From the most ‘brokenist’ PM we’ve ever had!” wrote one user, as another pointed out the irony of the leader who preaches fluency in two official languages accidentally coining a term that doesn’t exist. The ridicule didn’t stop there—“Dear Leader is so flustered, he makes no sense. This is the ‘brokenist’ he’s ever been,” a popular post read.
Fourth term drama: Will Trudeau run again?
But while the memes may be fun, the political landscape Trudeau faces is anything but. Adding to the PM’s woes, a significant number of his own party members have privately suggested he should bow out before the next election. A letter signed by more than 20 Liberal lawmakers urges Trudeau to step aside. His leadership, once seemingly untouchable, is now the subject of growing skepticism within the party.
Although Trudeau didn’t address the internal rebellion directly after the meeting, he’s hinted he plans to run for an unprecedented fourth term. However, cracks are forming, with MPs like Charles Sousa saying Trudeau is “reflecting” on his future.
Conservatives gain ground
With elections looming between now and October 2025, the Liberal Party‘s future seems uncertain. Recent losses in key special elections in Toronto and Montreal, combined with polling numbers that show the Conservatives leading by 13 points, spell trouble for Trudeau. Conservative leader Poilievre’s sharp criticism may have hit harder than expected, resonating with a public increasingly disillusioned with the Liberals’ performance.
