Although it was not a great year for the Liberal government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has no intention of stepping down. Recent polls have placed the Liberals behind the Conservatives in voter support. However, Trudeau told Rosemary Barton, chief political correspondent for CBC News, in an end-of-year interview that he is determined to remain as Liberal leader.

"Given the challenges people are facing now, and the way the world is going, and all that we are doing making positive differences in a very difficult time that is not over yet, I will not be the person I am," Trudeau said.

The Prime Minister touched on a number of issues and challenges in his interview with Barton.

Carbon tax...

Facing internal pressure from members of his Atlantic caucus, Trudeau announced a reduction of one of his key environmental policies in October.

The government will exempt heating oil from the federal carbon tax for three years, with Trudeau saying this step aims to help those currently using oil furnaces to heat their homes transition to environmentally friendly sources such as electric heat pumps.

The exemption became a political flashpoint during the fall Commons session, with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre claiming Trudeau made the carbon tax the issue that will decide the next election.

In response to a question about whether he was trying to hold Liberal seats in Atlantic Canada, where 30 percent of homeowners have oil furnaces, Trudeau confirmed that the exemption aims to give people more time to switch to heat pumps.

He also added that the policy is about responding to people's problems and that this does not mean there were no deep and genuine political concerns.

The federal carbon tax applies to provinces and territories that do not have carbon pricing systems considered by Ottawa to be sufficient to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, where households in those provinces receive a rebate to offset the tax.

Also, in response to a question about whether his government had failed to communicate how the policy works, Trudeau said he will continue to engage with Canadians.

Foreign interference...

Foreign interference dominated the political scene in the first half of the year after a number of media reports – citing unnamed security sources and secret documents – accused China of interfering in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Under pressure from opposition parties, the federal government launched a public inquiry to investigate foreign interference in the elections.

Barton asked Trudeau whether he believes those who leaked the highly classified information will face criminal charges.

Barton noted that without the leaks, a public inquiry might never have been launched. But Trudeau pointed out that his government has been active in preventing foreign interference. He noted the creation of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, a group of MPs who have the right to access highly classified information.

Trudeau said: "We have very strong oversight mechanisms, including the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, which we specifically created for that oversight so politicians can raise the flag when things are going on. We have done a lot and will continue to do a lot."

Housing...

The Liberals returned to the House of Commons in September and immediately launched a new housing policy.

Trudeau reshuffled his government in the summer and appointed the MP for Nova Scotia, Sean Fraser, responsible for the housing file, with Fraser since announcing a number of funding deals with the company MUNIC.