Setting

Common Ground takes place primarily in Canada from the late 1970s through 2014. The memoir spans Justin Trudeau's life from childhood to his role as leader of the Liberal Party, covering key events and locations that shaped his journey into politics.

Much of the narrative is set in Ottawa, Canada's capital, where Trudeau spent his early years at 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of the Prime Minister. The book also touches on his time in Montreal, where he attended McGill University and later ran for Parliament in the riding of Papineau.

Throughout the memoir, Trudeau reflects on Canada's political landscape during significant moments in the nation's history, including the Charlottetown Accord negotiations and the 1995 Quebec referendum. These events provide context for the broader Canadian setting and the political climate that influenced Trudeau's development as a public figure.

Key figures

• Justin Trudeau: The main subject of the memoir, current Prime Minister of Canada and son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
• Pierre Trudeau: Justin's father, former Prime Minister of Canada. Described as having exacting standards and a close relationship with his sons.
• Margaret Trudeau: Justin's mother, who struggled with mental health issues. Her marriage to Pierre and its difficulties are discussed in the book.
• Sophie Grégoire Trudeau: Justin's wife, who supported him in his early political career.
• Michel Trudeau: Justin's younger brother who passed away, mentioned as one of the tragic losses in Justin's life.

Quick facts

• The original edition of Common Ground was published on October 20, 2014, before Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister of Canada in 2015.
• Released in 2018, Common Ground: Exclusive Edition features a new foreword written and narrated by Justin Trudeau specifically for Audible.
• The remainder of the Audible audiobook is narrated by award-winning Canadian actor Colm Feore, who played Pierre Trudeau, the former Prime Minister and Justin’s father, in the CBC miniseries Trudeau.
• Trudeau is donating all proceeds from Common Ground: Exclusive Edition to the Canadian Red Cross Society.
• The memoir covers Trudeau's life from childhood through becoming Leader of the Liberal Party.
• Trudeau discusses the difficulties within his parents' marriage, including his mother’s mental health issues, and its effect on him as a child.
• The book explores Trudeau's close but complex relationship with his father.
• Common Ground details Trudeau's political coming of age during events like the Charlottetown Accord and Quebec Referendum.
• Trudeau reflects on his time as a teacher, which was interrupted by the tragic deaths of his brother and father.
• Trudeau describes how he met his wife, former Canadian television host Sophie Gregoire, and their early relationship.
• Common Ground provides insight into Trudeau's decision to enter politics and run for Prime Minister.
• The book reinforces Trudeau’s belief that Canada’s strength is its diversity and his commitment to finding “common ground”—a shared sense of purpose and hope—among the Canadian people.

About the author

Justin Trudeau, born in 1971, is the 23rd and current Prime Minister of Canada, serving since 2015. The son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, he entered politics in 2008 when he was elected as a Member of Parliament. Trudeau became Leader of the Liberal Party in 2013 and led the party to a majority government victory in the 2015 federal election, defeating the incumbent Conservative government.

As Prime Minister, Trudeau has pursued a progressive agenda focused on issues like climate change, gender equality, Indigenous reconciliation, and legalization of cannabis. His government introduced a national carbon pricing system and expanded Canada's refugee resettlement program. However, Trudeau has also faced controversy, including ethics violations related to a family vacation and the SNC-Lavalin affair. His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic became a major focus in 2020-2021. In foreign policy, Trudeau has had to navigate a complex relationship with the United States, particularly during Donald Trump's presidency when NAFTA was renegotiated. Relations with China deteriorated significantly after Canada's arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 at the request of the US.

Trudeau led the Liberals to re-election with a minority government in both 2019 and 2021. His government has pursued major policy initiatives like a national childcare program and expanded climate targets. However, Trudeau has also faced ongoing challenges related to affordability issues, pipeline politics, and regional divisions within Canada. As he continues his third mandate, Trudeau remains a polarizing figure in Canadian politics.