In Canada, Stunning Rout by Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party
OTTAWA The nine-year reign of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party came to a sudden and stunning end on Monday night at the hands of Justin Trudeau, the young leader of the Liberal Party.
Starting with a sweep of the Atlantic provinces, the Liberals capitalized on what many Canadians saw as Mr. Harpers heavy-handed style, and the party went on to capture 185 of the 338 seats in the next House of Commons. The upset victory occurred 47 years after Mr. Trudeaus father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, first swept to power.
Justin Trudeau, who will be 44 on Christmas Day, will become Canadas second-youngest prime minister and the first to follow a parent into office.
While the Liberal Party had emerged on top in several polls over the past week, its lead was short of conclusive and Mr. Trudeau was an untested figure. There was no ambiguity, however, in Mondays results.
The Conservatives were reduced to 102 seats from 159 in the last Parliament, according to preliminary results. The New Democratic Party, which had held second place and formed the official opposition, held on to only 40 seats after suffering substantial losses in Quebec to the Liberals.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/world/americas/canada-election-stephen-harper-justin-trudeau.html?_r=0
catbyte
(34,415 posts)I know it's impossible, especially in the House, what with the rampant gerrymandering and all, but a gal can dream, can't she?
CONGRATS, CANADA!!!!!
Demeter
(85,373 posts)It may not even be very difficult. There's a generational changeover, and economic pressure, and the entrapment of the current regime...all prime motivations to take a chance on real change.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)cprise
(8,445 posts)Warpy
(111,305 posts)because all the disgust I heard was aimed right at Harper, not the bunch of thieves and charlatans that formed the rest of his rotten government. With the lightning rod gone, the rest of the wretched edifice might seem supportable.
But tonight, it feels great. All the Canadians over at the foul mouthed knitters I hang with are getting thoroughly pissed in celebration, sort of like we'll be doing when neocons start going to prison.
Demeter
(85,373 posts)preferably to a real hellhole like Mars or Nigeria, fleeing the revenuers....
catbyte
(34,415 posts)Now THAT sounds like an intriguing group--right up my alley.
Chakab
(1,727 posts)delrem
(9,688 posts)Betty Karlson
(7,231 posts)a small but electorally significant majority.
Without those, the Conservative Party would have even less seats in Canda - hardly any outside Alberta.
Chakab
(1,727 posts)the opposite of what I meant to wirite.
delrem
(9,688 posts)This allows the media to avoid discussion of the issues that Canadians actually voted on.
We'll have to see how well he does on issues, with the first issue coming up being the TPP, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the media to notice little things like that.
rpannier
(24,330 posts)malthaussen
(17,209 posts)They're the true liberals, Mr Trudeau's party are more like our Third Way Dems.
-- Mal