UN Photo/Cia Pak

A year after Justin Trudeau’s 2016 address at the United Nations General Assembly let member states and the world know that “Canada is back,” many were puzzled by his 2017 speech, which focused almost entirely on domestic issues. Some found commendable and refreshing his frank admission of the challenges faced by indigenous peoples and reference to Canada as “a work in progress.” Others criticized the avoidance of discussion of international issues. The Globe and Mail editorialized that “This was nothing less than a campaign speech aimed at a domestic audience.”