Canadian election ushers in new era

Associated Press

TORONTO

The stunning victory of Justin Trudeau will reverberate beyond Canada’s borders after the Liberal Party leader emphatically ended a decade of rule by the most conservative leadership in the country’s history.

Among the areas in which Trudeau differs from his predecessor, Conservative Stephen Harper: airstrikes against the Islamic State group, climate change, immigration and whether relations with the U.S. should hinge on the future of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Speaking at a rally in Ottawa on Tuesday, the 43-year-old Trudeau – son of one of the country’s most dynamic politicians – underlined the sea change.

“I want to say this to this country’s friends around the world: Many of you have worried that Canada has lost its compassionate and constructive voice in the world over the past 10 years. Well, I have a simple message for you on behalf of 35 million Canadians. We’re back,” he declared.

With Trudeau’s decisive victory Monday, Canadian voters reclaimed their country’s liberal identity, giving the new prime minister a commanding majority in parliament that will allow him to govern without relying on other parties.

That means change in Canadian policies on a broad spectrum of issues.

“Trudeau will return Canada to its traditional approach in foreign affairs, which is characteristic of every single government but Harper’s,” said Robert Bothwell, a professor at the University of Toronto. “Canada will go back to multilateralism, back to strong support for the United Nations.”

There will be a “new way for Canada to be on the world stage,” agreed Liberal lawmaker Marc Garneau, who won re-election Monday.

Tall and trim, Trudeau is a former school teacher and member of Parliament since 2008. He becomes the second-youngest prime minister in Canadian history and has been likened to U.S. President Barack Obama.

“The whole tone of the U.S.-Canada relationship will change. Philosophically, Obama and Trudeau are much closer,” Bothwell said.

The White House said Obama called to congratulate Trudeau on Tuesday afternoon and said in a statement the two leaders are “committed to strengthening the countries’ joint efforts to promote trade, combat terrorism and mitigate climate change.”