Saturday, October 24, 2015
After a near-decade of conservative rule that changed the character of Canada, our neighbors to the north have said “Enough!” in an unambiguous and grand way.
In Monday’s national election, the voters gave the Liberal Party a clear majority in the 338-seat Parliament, and in so doing installed as prime minister a young, dashing leader who promised that “Canada is becoming the country it was before.”
Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau clearly signaled in his victory speech that he will continue the legacy of his father, one of the country’s most popular and dynamic leaders. Pierre Trudeau led the nation from 1968 to 1984, and during that period made liberalism the foundation of Canadian society and the envy of people around the world.
Pierre Trudeau’s vision of a united and multicultural Canada not only brought out the best in its citizens, but gave hope to those abroad yearning to be free. It’s not surprising that the country’s reputation for welcoming immigrants was burnished during the elder Trudeau’s tenure in office.
Thus, when the son spoke Tuesday night in the aftermath of his stunning win, he sounded much like his beloved father.
“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.”
And the 43-year-old member of parliament, former high school teacher, nightclub bouncer and snowboard instructor, had this message for his countrymen and women: “You want a government with a vision and an agenda for this country that is positive and ambitious and hopeful. Well, my friends, I promise you tonight that I will lead that government; I will be that prime minister.”
With 184 of Parliament’s 338 seats, the Liberal Party beat all expectations and proved most political analysts wrong. They had said Justin Trudeau would not secure a majority and, therefore, would have to form a governing coalition with the New Democratic Party.
But, Canadians obviously embraced his campaign of change and concluded that he needed to be free of the strictures that political coalitions bring.
TRUDEAU’S PLANS
Trudeau has promised to raise taxes on the wealthy, run deficits for three years to boost government spending, tear down the barriers to immigration erected during the Stephen Harper years, and to make Canada a leader in international talks on climate change.
Harper and the Conservative Party took office determined to end the era of liberalism. The Conservative majority in Parliament cut corporate and sales taxes, tightened immigration laws, fully supported oil and gas exploration and withdrew Canada from the climate- change agreement.
Harper also clashed with U.S. President Barack Obama over a number of issues, foremost being the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would run from Alberta to the Gulf coast of Texas.
The Canadian leader was critical of the administration’s refusal to approve the pipeline without the necessary environmental reviews.
Prime Minister-elect Trudeau also supports the pipeline but said during the campaign that he would not let it affect his relationship with Obama.
Indeed, Trudeau’s age and limited political experience are drawing comparisons with Obama’s historic victory in 2008.
Just as news stories have played up the fact that Obama is the first black to lead the most powerful nation on earth, reports from Tuesday’s election in Canada have focused on Trudeau’s youth, good looks and political pedigree.
The human-interest element of the story has an American twist. Four decades ago, then President Richard Nixon attended a state dinner hosted by Pierre Trudeau in Ottawa and said this in his speech:
“Tonight we’ll dispense with the formalities. I’d like to toast the future prime minister of Canada: to Justin Trudeau.” The boy was 4 months old.
Trudeau was elected to Parliament in 2008, representing a working-class district in Montreal at a time when the Liberal Party was in the throes of political despair. He ultimately became leader of the Liberals and worked to rebuild the party’s brand.
His stunning victory shows he inherited his father’s political instincts.
Now, Justin Trudeau must prove that he has the ability to govern.