The new Liberal Leader is presented as shallow and ridiculed for his theatrics during a mock striptease, which is front and centre in English and French-language ads featuring lots of slow motion shots. There is also heavy emphasis on the mustache and long hair that Mr. Trudeau once adorned, making him look like one of the Three Musketeers
Justin Trudeau is "in way over his head" in his plans to become prime minister, according to a new series of Conservative attack ads.
The new Liberal Leader is presented as shallow and ridiculed for his theatrics during a mock striptease, which is front and centre in English and French-language ads featuring lots of slow motion shots. There is also heavy emphasis on the mustache and long hair that Mr. Trudeau once sported, making him look like one of the Three Musketeers.
The ads are showcased on a new website called http://www.justinoverhishead.ca/ , featuring a number of fundraising appeals in order to run them as frequently as possible on television. There is another ad at this site that describes Mr. Trudeau's work experience as a "drama teacher" and his lousy attendance record in the House of Commons.
"Does he have the judgment to become Prime Minister?" the ad asks, with carousel music in the background.
The ads quote a 14-year-old interview with CTV in which Mr. Trudeau states that "Quebeckers are better than the rest of Canada."
The full-length quote shows that Mr. Trudeau was in fact explaining the philosophy that had been passed on by his father, the late prime minister Pierre Trudeau, to show why, in his view, Quebec did not need "special deals" in the Canadian Constitution.
His office added that the mock striptease was conducted at a charity event called "What a Girl Wants," organized by the Canadian Liver Foundation. Mr. Trudeau helped raise $1,800 at the event with his performance.
Mr. Trudeau's top adviser, Gerald Butts, denounced the ads on Twitter.
"We expected attacks, but we didn't expect even them to attack @JustinTrudeau for raising money for cancer research," he said.
However, a spokesman for the Conservative Party defended the use of the footage from the charity event.
"We believe Justin Trudeau's eagerness to perform a strip-tease, regardless of the venue or putative cause, says something about his judgement," Fred DeLorey said in a statement.
The website also features lots of glowing reviews of Mr. Trudeau's campaign from various Ottawa-based reporters, stating that journalists are "most affected" by Trudeaumania.
Mr. Trudeau is expected to react to the ads after Question Period on Monday afternoon.
Daniel Leblanc