Justin Trudeausa国际传媒檚 interview on sa国际传媒淭he Late Show with Stephen Colbertsa国际传媒� began with the expected jokes about bacon and Canadians saying sorry a lot, but the prime minister acknowledged itsa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒渁 really tough timesa国际传媒� in the country when the host asked about an expected confidence vote in Parliament this week.

sa国际传媒淧eople are hurting. People are having trouble paying for groceries, paying for rent, filling up the tank,sa国际传媒� Trudeau said during the CBS program Monday in New York, where he has been meeting with world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly.

Trudeau admitted theresa国际传媒檚 frustration. He said the housing crisis sa国际传媒渋s a little sharpersa国际传媒� in Canada than it is in the U.S. And even though he said Canadasa国际传媒檚 economy is performing better on a sa国际传媒渕acrosa国际传媒� level than its southern neighboursa国际传媒檚, people donsa国际传媒檛 feel it when theysa国际传媒檙e at the checkout.

Still, he said itsa国际传媒檚 important to invest in people by moving forward with $10 a day child care, dental care and pharmacare so that diabetes medication and prescription contraception will be free.

Trudeau will return to Ottawa on Wednesday in time for a vote on an expected non-confidence motion the Conservatives have threatened to bring in against his minority government.

sa国际传媒淧eople are sometimes looking at change but the reality is I deeply believe in continuing to fight climate change and continuing to invest in people, continuing to be there to support people. And Isa国际传媒檓 going to keep fighting,sa国际传媒� he told Colbert.

At one point Colbert said flirtations with fascism and xenophobia were rising across the globe, and he said that even in Canada, Trudeausa国际传媒檚 opponent has been called sa国际传媒淐anadasa国际传媒檚 Trump.sa国际传媒� He wondered why such ideologies were getting traction in a country sa国际传媒渁s polite as Canada.sa国际传媒�

Trudeau didnsa国际传媒檛 bite on the Trump remark, but responded that Canada isnsa国际传媒檛 perfect. He said universal health care took decades to fight for, and things like leading the world with action on climate change are worth fighting for, too.

sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 a big argument right now about whether dental care really exists. Wesa国际传媒檝e delivered it to 700,000 people across the country and my opponent is gaslighting us and saying, oh, dental care doesnsa国际传媒檛 even exist yet,sa国际传媒� he said.

Conservative health critic Stephen Ellis said in a statement earlier this month that the government had botched the dental program, saying the vast majority of Canadians donsa国际传媒檛 qualify, and those who do may still have to pay out of pocket.

Colbert also asked Trudeau about issues Canada and the U.S. fight over, such as the softwood lumber duty that the U.S. Department of Commerce nearly doubled in August. Trudeau replied that Americans are paying too much for lumber because of the tariffs.

sa国际传媒淲e come over the border for cheaper drugs. You guys happy with that?sa国际传媒� Colbert asked.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e happy to try and help you out but it would be really easier if you get universal health care,sa国际传媒� Trudeau answered, to loud applause from the audience.