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Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 02:01 AM Oct 2015

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. Harper’s 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. Trudeau’s father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, first swept to power.

Justin Trudeau, who will be 44 on Christmas Day, will become Canada’s 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 Monday’s 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.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/world/americas/canada-election-stephen-harper-justin-trudeau.html?_r=0

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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catbyte

(34,415 posts)
1. WOO HOO!!!! Now if the US House & Senate would just follow suit...
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 02:07 AM
Oct 2015

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)
4. It's NOT impossible
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 03:19 AM
Oct 2015

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.

Warpy

(111,305 posts)
3. It could change hands the next time
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 02:51 AM
Oct 2015

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)
5. I'd be happy if the neocons just went away
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 03:21 AM
Oct 2015

preferably to a real hellhole like Mars or Nigeria, fleeing the revenuers....

 

Betty Karlson

(7,231 posts)
10. The Conservatives have gerrymandered seats - where carefully selected conservative groups have
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 04:23 AM
Oct 2015

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)
11. Thanks for clearing that up. I just realized how my post actually implies
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 04:40 AM
Oct 2015

the opposite of what I meant to wirite.

delrem

(9,688 posts)
8. I noticed immediately that the media was saying he won on "style".
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 04:13 AM
Oct 2015

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.

malthaussen

(17,209 posts)
13. But it appears the NDP also lost seats.
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 08:31 AM
Oct 2015

They're the true liberals, Mr Trudeau's party are more like our Third Way Dems.

-- Mal

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