Cohen: Justin Trudeau needs to prove that he's actually a serious guy

The federal election was in the autumn. The Liberals, having won a resounding majority four years earlier, were seeking another mandate. They were led by a swaggering intellectual named Pierre Trudeau.
The Conservatives were led by an honest, dull journeyman named Robert Stanfield. The Liberals had led in the opinion polls for most of the campaign, but their support was weakening by its end.
Among the criticisms of the government was that the prime minister was “not serious.” He was