Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Monday night appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was one of the top trending conversations online, as the Liberal Party leader’s performance was picked apart by Canadians.

PM Trudeau, who has been tanking in polls amid recent setbacks between losses in key Liberal strongholds and losing the support of the NDP at the federal level, kicked off the week fielding questions about Canada’s changing political landscape and the key challenges faced by Canadians on a daily basis.

The PM noted how Canadians are going through a “tough time” and are “taking a lot out on me for understandable reasons” since he is the one steering the ship through current problems facing the country.

Many people thanked him for being a “true leader” in acknowledging the dissatisfaction among Canadians towards him while also drawing comparisons with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

PM Trudeau making a case for Canadians and bringing up issues where Canada is leading on at the world stage — climate change, universal health care and dental care for low-income Canadians — resonated with many of his supporters.

However, his critics remained unconvinced with many sharing their hot takes online and describing the discussion as “somewhat bland” while shifting the focus to the healthcare crisis and expensive groceries in Canada.

Pierre Poilievre being referred to as ‘Canada’s Trump’ on Colbert’s show infuriates Conservative supporters

A part of the night’s discussion was focused on Colbert asking Trudeau about the rise in far-right nationalism and the growing division among Canadians politically. Colbert also touched on Pierre Poilievre, who he said has been called “Canada’s Trump.” To which Trudeau responded saying “we’re not some magical place of unicorns and rainbows all the time.”

Colbert saying that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been described as “Canada’s Trump” sparked mixed reactions from Canadians, some of whom found it funny while others took offence and called Trudeau’s appearance a “campaign propaganda.”

Adding more to his response to Colbert on Canadians being divided, Trudeau cited an example of the Canada Dental Care Plan which he claims has helped 700,000 Canadians so far but the Conservative leader fails to acknowledge it.

“There’s a big argument right now about whether dental care even exists,” Trudeau said.

“We’ve delivered it to 700,000 people across the country and my opponent is gaslighting us and saying, ‘Dental care doesn’t even exist yet.’”

Earlier in September, Conservative MP Stephen Ellis said the government failed in the delivery of subsidized dental care and claimed most Canadians don’t qualify for coverage or must still pay out of pocket for services.

The Canada Dental Care Plan is accepting applications from people over the age of 65, for children under the age of 18 and those who receive the Disability Tax Credit. Additional eligibility phases will roll out next year.

Applicants must first confirm before being enrolled with Sun Life, which manages the means-tested plan open to those whose adjusted family net income is less than $90,000 per year and who don’t have access to dental care programs through employer plans, private coverage, or student or pension benefits.

Trudeau’s TV appearance comes in the same week a vote of no-confidence in his government is expected

Justin Trudeau is set to face a non-confidence motion in the House of Commons this week. The motion was moved Tuesday morning by the Conservatives and is up for voting on Wednesday. If the Liberals are to lose, Canada could witness a snap-election. However, the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois have already hinted at supporting the Liberals in defeating the motion.

The Prime Minister addressed the concerns of Canadians and the possibility of losing the top job as soon as the end of this week on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

“It’s a really tough time for people in Canada right now,” Trudeau said.

“People are hurting. People are having trouble paying for groceries, paying for rent, filling up the tank.”

“People are frustrated and the idea that maybe they want an election now is something that my opponents are trying to bank on because people are taking a lot out on me, for understandable reasons,” he said. “I’ve been here, and I’ve been steering us through all these things and people are sometimes looking at change.”