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Media to Justin Trudeau: ‘Where’s your policy?’

He's talked about legalizing pot; he wants more transparency in terms of MP expenses; but when it comes to his core pledge of helping the middle class, Justin Trudeau has been consistently vague.

Since announcing his leadership intentions last Fall, he's gotten away with talking in broad terms and generalities.

It seems the media now wants more.

[ Related: Trudeau hypes transparency at Liberal caucus retreat ]

Trudeau is in Prince Edward Island, this week, as part of the annual Liberal Party caucus get-together.

During a press conference, on Wednesday afternoon, the media grilled him about his party's economic platform.

[We're] looking at education and training, looking at how we're expanding opportunities in knowledge economy," Trudeau said.

"Looking at how we develop solutions across the board is what the Liberal party will be focused on over the coming years. We have a policy platform to build for 2015 and we are serious about putting it together in consultation with experts, with academics and ordinary Canadians."

With Trudeau not offering any specifics, the media seemed to get more and more frustrated.

Here are some of the questions they peppered him with:

"How much progress did you make this week with respect to concrete solutions for Canadians?"

"You're talking about middle class and improving the fortunes of middle class Canadians but you're still not any closer to giving us an example on how you would do that. So what's the point..."

"Mr. Trudeau, you don't seem to be in a hurry. Everyone is here and for months, people have been asking you for specific policies. You said you were going to present one. But now you don't seem to think there's any rush. Why are you in so little hurry to announce those policies? You're so comfortable with that. Why is that?"

"I just want to ask you, what exactly did you accomplish this summer?"

"You criticize the Conservatives for their policies and their platform...so how can you get Canadians on side when you have absolutely no specifics?"

Finally, Trudeau snapped back.

"My responsibility is to put forward a comprehensive robust platform in 2015 that is going to demonstrate to Canadians that the Liberal Party is serious about working hard for them and responding to their concerns," he said.

"And I'm not going to shortcut that process...just because people want to know right now and are impatient to know."

[ Related: Justin Trudeau’s pot smoking admission may have buoyed the Liberals in new poll ]

If the polls are any indication, Trudeau doesn't need to lay out his policy just yet. According to a Forum Research poll, released Monday, the Liberals have "surged" to 38 per cent support compared to the Conservatives at 29 per cent and the NDP at 22 per cent.

It's clear that a lot of Canadians like Trudeau.

But as explained by Postmedia News' Michael Den Tandt, the likability factor can only take a politician so far.

"He...needs to flesh out his economic thinking — beyond saying that the middle class is hard-pressed, indebted and so on. This is not to say he can or should unveil his election platform two years before the vote. But he should begin to speak, with consistency and authority, about how a Trudeau government would foster growth," Den Tandt wrote.

"It’s time now for more than hints."

Is it time for Justin Trudeau to move beyond the generalities and start talking about specific policies? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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