Liberals achieve plurality in Canada, ensuring second Justin Trudeau term

[Julian Englis]

Source: Politico



MONTREAL — Justin Trudeau will serve another term as Canada’s prime minister after Liberals won a plurality of seats in Parliament today, according to calls by CBC News and CTV News.

The quick declaration of Trudeau’s victory came as a surprise after he was deadlocked in the polls with Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer during the six-week campaign, leading election observers to predict a minority government. Votes are still being reported, and further returns will determine whether Trudeau will govern with a majority or minority government.

The Liberal leader survived numerous controversies, including revelations by Time Magazine in September that Trudeau wore racist makeup to a costume party in 2001 while he taught at a private school. The SNC-Lavalin scandal has also dogged Trudeau this year, particularly after the country’s ethics commissioner determined his office tried to shield the engineering company from criminal prosecution.

(SNIP)

During the campaign, Trudeau told voters they had a choice between a progressive agenda on climate change and social services, or a Scheer-led government that would end the carbon tax while having no targets for emission reductions. But Trudeau risked losing support from Canadians demanding climate action after approving the purchase of the Trans Mountain Pipeline.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/21/canada-election-justin-trudeau-000293

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Updated

[appalachiablue]

1. Bravo!

[riversedge]

2. Smart folks in Canada!! Now let the USA be just a smart!

[DesertRat]

3. Glad to see our neighbors to the north rejecting Trumpism!

[world wide wally]

4. Yay, Canada!

[appalachiablue]

5. Liberals celebrate 2nd term for Trudeau in Montreal:

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-us-canada-50100810

[gembaby1]

6. I'm so relieved 😅

The Liberals won a strong minority government with the NDP to act as a check on them. Liberals + NDP = A stronger social democratic government. That can only be good for the environment, health care, inclusion and all else.

Cheers everyone! 🇨🇦

❤️ Tanya 🙏

[0rganism]

7. well that's a relief

part of the world finally gets a break from creeping bottomless wingnuttery
nice to see at least some of our neighbors remain sane

[bucolic_frolic]

8. He has a solid record and the scandals were small bore

Voters can't be deceived too often. Or maybe it's that blessed 6 week campaign! We use every waking hour for 4 years to advertise and deceive. Our voters are not informed, they are numb.

[luvtheGWN]

9. Yes, 6 weeks is quite long enough for us!

And we don't allow big corporate donations (our companies aren't "people too"...)

I'm not worried about a minority government. Some of our best and most progressive legislation in past years has been produced by a minority government.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Which means your parties cooperate with each other

rather than stonewall Moscow Mitch style

[OnlinePoker]

15. Average minority government in Canada lasts about 2 years

The difference this time is the NDP are broke and can't afford to fight another election any time soon and the Bloc Quebecois have just had a resurgent election to give them a lot of power in the Quebec faction of Canadian politics. They won't be trying to topple Trudeau, either. Only 63% voted this year compared to over 68% in 2015 when Trudeau was swept into power.

One note that I'm very happy about, Jodi Wilson-Raybould, who refused to give in to the Prime Minister's bullying tactics with the SNC scandal and was kicked out of the Liberal caucus as a result, ran as an independant and won her riding. She was popular and showed great integrity and was rewarded for that.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

11. This is such great news.

Not happy conservatives are projected to win the popular vote, but take a win where it counts. Good job Canada.

[Jose Garcia]

12. Just like in the US, the guy with the 2nd most votes wins

[Saviolo]

13. Also, Maxime Bernier got buried, which is awesome.

For any not in the know, Maxime Bernier is the leader of the far-right People's Party of Canada, a newer party. He used to be a Conservative, but he decided they weren't far enough to the right, and started his staunchly anti-immigration party. PPC got about 1% of the vote, and Bernier lost his seat in his own riding, which he held as a Conservative for years. Awesome to see Canada almost completely reject their hateful ideology.

Also, bonus comedy points, the Rhino party found a guy named Maxime Bernier to run against the PPC party leader Maxime Bernier in his own riding. Now that's some fun politics

[roamer65]

14. Canada voted overwhelmingly for center-left gov't.

Add up the Liberal-NDP-Green votes and it is well higher than 50 pct.

That’s a mandate for a push to the left. Trudeau will need to push harder left to keep a governing coalition.

Canadians want Trudeau to tack leftward.

[Blue_Tires]

16. LOL she mad...

Link to tweet