Canada used to be something you could safely ignore. Oh sure, reminders of our Northern neighbor popped up from time to time, in the form of a tired “Eh?” joke, a swath of plaid flannel, mention of ice hockey or even a Ryan Gosling here and there, letting us know that they were still up there, being quietly awesome, a wonderful vacation destination.

But things have changed. Canada isn’t so quiet anymore. No, it’s clear now that Canada is trolling us.

As we slog through what’s shaping up to be the Strangest Election Ever in the US (so many arguments, so much bile! So many R-rated debates!) there Canada is, whooping it up. Being the un-United States, offering us a socially progressive vision of what we could have been, what we could be, if things were different and we weren’t all quite so angry at each other. It’s a vision that is, depending on your political beliefs, either tantalizing or terrifying.

Its weapon, of course, is Justin Trudeau, the 44-year-old sworn in as Prime Minister in November.

Trudeau, son of the late Pierre Trudeau, Canada’s PM from 1968-1979 and 1980-84, has generated wild enthusiasm worldwide for his charisma, good looks, style, tolerance, and progressive ideas (“Seriously, with his looks, heart, and mind, he’s dreamy,” a senior Obama official who asked to remain anonymous gushed to Politico earlier this week).

When you type “Justin Trudeau” into Google, the third and fourth phrases that pop up automatically are “Justin Trudeau boxing” and “Justin Trudeau tattoo,” which is pretty badass for a politician.

It’s hard to believe he isn’t a highly paid actor who’s part of an extensive (and extremely successful) Canadian re-branding project.

Trudeau visited the US this week and was received at the White House for a state dinner, the first for a Canadian Prime Minister in nearly 20 years. At the dinner, President Obama joked about which Canadian Justin was more popular: Trudeau or Bieber?

It’s a tough call. Bieber might appear in the new Calvin Klein underwear ad campaign, but Trudeau once stripped down to his undershirt for a 2011 charity event (in the background, you can hear one woman yell “YOWR!” amidst the other feminine yells, hoots and hollers.)

At the state dinner, Trudeau toasted the USA and Canada as siblings. It’s true, save for the handful of times we have invaded — or attempted to invade — each other the countries have maintained a close relationship. But the way things currently stand, if the US and Canada are brothers, Canada’s the golden boy who can do no wrong while the other brother — that would be us — sulks around the Thanksgiving table with his Dunkin’ Donuts habit and anger-management issues.

It doesn’t help that Trudeau seems determined to top his own glowing press, doing something newly fabulous with each passing week. On Monday, apparently intent on breaking the Internet, he cuddled with some baby pandas at the Toronto Zoo. (The cubs were named Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue, Canadian Hope and Canadian Joy, respectively.)

On Tuesday, the self-described feminist marked International Women’s Day by announcing that a new set of Canadian bills to be issued in 2018 will feature a Canadian woman on them. (True, Queen Elizabeth II is featured on the $20 bills, but she isn’t Canadian.)

Even when he isn’t doing anything to make news, a YouTube clip from years ago will emerge, further proving his awesomeness, like this fantastic video of him dancing to Bhangra and nailing it — “the best white guy #bhangra dancer on earth,” according to Brooklyn-based author Anand Giridharadas.

Take a minute, please, and picture any of the current US presidential candidates doing this dance to the song from the hit Bollywood movie “Dil Bole Hadippa!” in those white kurta-pajamas. No matter which candidate you picture — male or female — not a single one will come up to that level of Trudeau awesomeness. Hilarious? That’s something else again.