The two reasons I would go to a talk are to learn something new or innovative or to hear something presented in a new way. Justin Trudeau didn’t tell me anything new and neither did he speak with much innovation. What he did provide was himself, someone to whom this group of mostly university students would listen.

Even if he doesn’t have much more than a famous father, the name of a prime minister, and a wealth of experiences around the world, if people will listen, it behooves him to speak and do what he can to make a difference.

He opened by saying that since he was a teacher he knows what it is like to be talked at and that he wanted to hear what we, the audience, thought and had to say. He said he would speak for only about 15-20 minutes; fifty minutes later he finished and asked for questions. The question period lasted less than 40 minutes.

In his speech he walked about the stage and seemed quite comfortable with the audience. He likely speaks to audiences often, but that was not reflected in the content.

He stumbled over facts and points he tried to make.

Once he suggested comparing the energy input into producing a kilogram of beef compared to a kilogram of food from plants. First he said it was 10 or 20 times more, but backtracked and said it maybe wasn’t that much, but said that a scientist told him that plants and carp had similar energy inputs, but admitted he didn’t know what carp tastes like.

At one point distracted he looked at his shoes and said he wondered if he was wearing his alligator shoes and that he didn’t know whether they were farmed or not. It seems to show an unnecessary extravagance and an ignorance on the impact of his purchases. I don’t know whether farmed or wild alligator shoes are better in a ecological way, but I don’t own any such shoes.

In criticising our economic system he said that being a productive member of society meant to be a consumer. I disagree, being a productive member of society means being a producer.

He said that after the 2001 attack on America, that “after two weeks when George Bush finally got around to addressing the American people. . . .” Wait a second, that’s not true, George Bush addressed the American public in the evening of September 11. Trudeau said that he told them to go shopping.

I did like what he said about giving Canadian youths experiences. He said that for Katimavik that 10,000 young Canadians apply for 1,000 spots. He wants to advocate for more opportunities for them to participate in civil, international and military service.

He said that he didn’t want to get political, then proceeded to criticise the government.

Justin Trudeau seems to be trying to do the right thing. People will listen to him, so he tries to speak about important issues.

For youth and students that hear him I think they learned a little, but I would say to them look to Justin for inspiration, but not information. My hope for Trudeau with his growing influence and his bright opportunities, that he will achieve something once he has learned a lot more.