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“If we want to form government in 2015 — make no mistake, we do — we need to build a plan that Canadians believe in,” said Trudeau.

“We need to offer to Canadians a vision of how we would govern this country and a clear explanation of what our priorities would be.”

Notably, Trudeau said he wanted to speak “directly” to those who may have been in the crowd who haven’t voted Liberal in a long time, or ever.

“Friends, you voted for strong voices from your community. You got back spokespeople for the PMO.

“You wanted greater integrity, greater transparency. What you got in return is one of the most secretive governments this country has ever seen.”

Trudeau’s speech came after he gathered his caucus of MPs for a meeting in downtown Edmonton earlier in the day to gear up for the next few months.

The Liberals are preparing for an election as early as next spring — even though Harper has said it won’t happen until the fall of 2015 — and they are preparing a policy platform that will released when the campaign occurs.

The centerpiece of that platform will be a range of policies designed to address the economic insecurity that the Liberals say is being felt by the Canadian middle class.

“Far too many of our middle class, most of whom haven’t had a real raise in 30 years, worry about their kids’ futures, about their own retirement, about the rising cost of housing,” said Trudeau.

“We need to build an economy that truly works for the middle class. One that gives the largest number of good jobs to the largest number of people and gives all Canadians a real and fair chance of success.”