Canadian voters reclaimed their country’s liberal identity by sending Justin Trudeau — the son of one of the country’s most dynamic politicians — to the prime minister’s office and ending nearly a decade of Conservative leadership under Stephen Harper.
The victory in Monday’s election by Trudeau’s Liberal Party was stunning. The Liberals were on a path to win at least 184 seats out of 338 — a parliamentary majority that will allow Trudeau to govern without relying on other parties.
The Liberals won 39.5 percent of the overall vote compared with 32 percent for the Conservatives and 19.6 for the New Democrats.
Photo: AFP
Harper, one of the longest-serving Western leaders, will step down as Conservative leader, the party announced as the scope of its loss became apparent.
Trudeau’s victory could result in improved ties with the US, at least for the remainder of US President Barack Obama’s term.
Harper was frustrated by Obama’s reluctance to approve the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta to Texas and clashed with Obama on other issues, including the Iran nuclear deal.
Photo: Bloomberg
Although Trudeau supports the Keystone pipeline, he has said relations should not hinge on the project.
He is the son of the former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau, who swept to office in 1968 on a wave of support dubbed “Trudeaumania,” and served as prime minister until 1984 with a short interruption.
At 43, Justin Trudeau becomes the second-youngest prime minister in Canadian history.
“Tonight Canada is becoming the country it was before,” he told a victory rally in Montreal.
He has re-energized the Liberal Party since its worst electoral defeat four years ago, when they won just 34 seats and finished third behind the traditionally weaker New Democrat Party. He said positive politics led to his victory.
“We beat fear with hope,” he said. “We beat cynicism with hard work. We beat negative, divisive politics with a positive vision that brings Canadians together. Most of all we defeated the idea that Canadians should be satisfied with less.”
Canada shifted to the center-right under Harper, who lowered sales and corporate taxes, avoided climate change legislation and strongly supported the oil and gas extraction industry.
“The people are never wrong,” Harper told supporters in Calgary. “The disappointment is my responsibility and mine alone.”
Harper said he had called Justin Trudeau to congratulate him.
Former colleagues of Harper, 56, said he would be personally devastated to lose to a Trudeau, the liberal legacy he entered politics to destroy.
The New Democrats suffered a crushing defeat, falling to third place with 43 seats after winning official opposition status in the last election.
“I congratulated Mr Trudeau on his exceptional achievement,” New Democrat leader Thomas Mulcair told at a rally in Montreal.
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