TRUDEAUMANIA — AGAIN
Voters decide Justin is, in fact, ready ‘ Our enviable, inclusive society didn’t happen by accident …’
The Liberal party steamrollered to a stunning political comeback Monday night, forming a new, majority government and creating Canada’s first family dynasty at the highest level of national politics as a historic campaign came to a dramatic end.
The Liberals had collapsed to just 34 seats and third place in the 2011 election. But they were leading or elected in almost 190 constituencies by early morning, taking from both the NDP and Conservatives and riding a wave of resentment toward Conservative leader Stephen Harper.
As the results streamed in from the last polls to close in British Columbia, it became clear that leader Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, whose father Pierre was one of Canada’s most legendary leaders, had achieved the majority that even the most recent polls indicated would be impossible.
By about midnight the Liberals were elected or leading in 189 ridings, with the Conservatives at 104, the NDP 34, the Bloc Quebecois 10 and Greens one. A party needed 170 seats to form a majority.
They also surged way ahead in the popular vote, with 42.8%, versus 31.1% for the Tories, 18% for the NDP and 4.3% for the Greens.
The Tories’ backing remained virtually the same as it has been in polls for weeks now, with the huge Liberal gains coming largely at the expense of the New Democrats.
The Conservative party released a statement saying Harper was stepping down as leader of the party, though remaining as an MP, and that an interim leader would be appointed. But while Harper admitted defeat in a speech to a room packed with cheering supporters around 10 p. m. Calgary time, he said nothing about his resignation from the leadership of the party he united.
In a lengthy victory speech, Trudeau stressed the power of positive election campaigning and its potential to change how Canadians view public service.
“You can appeal to the better angels of our natures, and you can win while doing it,” he said. “We beat fear with hope, we beat cynicism with hard work, we beat negative, divisive politics with a positive vision that brings Canadians together.”
He also alluded to the Conservatives’ campaign against what they called “barbaric cultural practices” such as women who wear the facecovering niqab at citizenship ceremonies.
“Our enviable, inclusive society didn’t happen by accident and won’t continue without effort,” said Trudeau. “Have faith in your fellow citizens, they are kind and generous, they are open and optimistic. They know in their heart of hearts that a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian.”
Harper said in a muted concession speech that he would help facilitate the transition of power, before touting what he said were some of the guiding principles of his political career.
“We believe hardworking Canadians should keep more of the money they earn because we believe the government should manage people’s money the way people manage their own,” he said. “We believe that in a dangerous world, Canadians must advance our values, defend our interests and stand by our friends.”
The campaign underscored the differences between the parties, which helped Canadians make a choice, Tom Mulcair, the NDP leader, said in his concession speech late Monday night.
“Today Canadians have made that choice, and we accept that choice with full humility,” he said, before leaving the stage quickly.
Mulcair added that Trudeau had made “ambitious commitments” to Canadians, and voters will now have high expectations.
The night was a major disappointment for the NDP, who had been ahead in the polls only weeks ago and looked on the verge of leading the federal government for the first time. It dropped from 94 seats in the last Parliament.
The Liberals started by snapping up all 32 seats in Atlantic Canada, then stormed into Ontario, Quebec and the Prairies as the first two waves of results flooded in Monday.
A subdued Peter MacKay, who resigned as a Conservative MP and cabinet minister earlier this year, conceded early in the evening that many voters wanted to turf out his party.
“This is not what we had hoped for at all,” McKay told CBC. “Clearly there was a very clear resonance of this ( idea of ) change — change to what or change for what reason people can give all kinds of commentary.”
Jason Kenney, the Conservative defence minister, suggested midevening the Liberal gains early in the night were the inevitable result of a party being in power for a decade. “After 10 years in office, there’s obviously going to be an accumulation of resentments.”