Surprise, surprise: Grits tap Trudeau for top job

Receiving an overwhelming majority of the votes, Justin Trudeau was elected leader of the federal Liberals on April 14.

Trudeau didn't have much time to rest on his laurels, though. The 41-year-old eldest son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau faced off against Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the House of Commons on April 15, when Parliament resumed after a two-week break.

Recent polls have shown that if an election were held today, Trudeau would lead the Liberals to a majority government, making the Conservatives the official opposition and relegating the NDP to third-party status.

A statement released by the Conservatives just after Trudeau was chosen as party leader said he “may have a famous last name, but in a time of global uncertainty, he doesn't have the judgement or experience to be prime minister.”

Trudeau said he expects the Conservatives will release attack ads against him, but said it's because they're afraid of him.

Meanwhile, Trudeau is looking to mend rifts within his own party.

“I don't care if you thought my father was great or arrogant,” he said in his victory speech. “It doesn't matter to me whether you were a Chrétien Liberal or a Martin Liberal ... The era of hyphenated Liberals ends right here, right now.”