Leaders hit the campaign trail
Election launches with parties in full swing to get message out across the country
OTTAWA— Canada’s political leaders have hit the hustings in a campaign that could be decided by pocketbook worries, climate change concerns and the question of whether Justin Trudeau’s Liberals deserve another turn in government.
The prime minister paid a mid-morning visit to Gov. Gen. Julie Payette at Rideau Hall Wednesday to ask her to dissolve Parliament and kick off the campaign for the Oct. 21 vote.
Trudeau emerged from his meeting just over 40 minutes later and made his pitch for a second term, saying the choice facing voters is to “keep moving forward” or return to the politics of the “Harper years,” referring to former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper.
“At the end of the day, politics is about people … whoever you are, you deserve areal plan for the future,” Trudeau said.
He said his government has put more money in the pockets of middle-class Canadians, strengthened the Canada Pension Plan, enhanced environmental protections and renegotiated a trade deal with the United States at a time of “protectionism and unpredictability.”
“Canadians have an important choice to make. Will we go back to the failed policies of the past or will we continue to move forward? That’s the choice. It’s that clear,” he said.
“I’m for moving forward for everyone,” he said.
But in the questions that followed, Trudeau was pressed again about the SNC-Lavalin affair, evidence that the controversy, which saw the prime minister censured for his actions by the ethics commissioner, will dog the Liberals in the campaign.
The election launch coincided with the 18th anniversary of the Sept.11, 2001, terror attacks.
All the leaders began their comments with remarks honouring those killed that day and the families and friends that mourn the loss.
Trudeau’s political rivals kicked off their campaigns taking aim at the Liberal record since 2015.
“The countdown for Canada to get rid of Justin Trudeau’s failed government is now officially underway,” Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer told supporters in Trois-Rivières, Que.
“It’s time to elect a government that will let you get ahead,” Scheer said.
“The question in this election is very clear — who can you trust to help your family to get ahead. The answer is certainly not Justin Trudeau,” Scheer said.
Scheer sought to contrast not only the differences in policy but personality and upbringing, calling Trudeau a “millionaire” Liberal who doesn’t know what it’s like to raise a family in “difficult conditions.”
Scheer vowed Wednesday to balance the budget and lower taxes for Canadians but he’s previously said that a Conservative government would take five years to balance the books.
Launching their campaign in Quebec is a calculated political move for the Conservatives and Scheer made a pointed outreach to Quebecers not to vote for the Bloc Québécois, calling that party’s MPs “powerless spectators, just armchair quarterbacks.”
“It’s not the Bloc that will replace Justin Trudeau,” Scheer said.
The Conservative party has already released its position on climate change but unlike other leaders Wednesday, Scheer said little on the topic in his own stump speech.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh touted his party as the true defender of the interests of everyday Canadians, painting Trudeau as a poser who never made good on his progressive promises in the last election.
“Justin Trudeau charmed us with pretty words and empty promises. He said the right things but he didn’t do them,” Singh said.
“It’s clear Justin Trudeau isn’t who he pretended to be. And Andrew Scheer and the Conservatives are not the answer. They’re going to cut taxes for the wealthy but they’re going to cut services that you and your families count on,” he said.
“This election comes down to a really clear question — who can you count on to fight for you,” he said.
Singh kicked off his launch in London, Ont., a city, like many others, facing an opioid crisis.
Asked about the situation, Singh said an NDP government would immediately declare opioid addictions a public health emergency nationwide to free up resources.
The NDP leader shrugged off questions about weak poll showings for the party or fundraising troubles. “I believe that campaigns matter. I believe that a lot can change in a campaign … We’re confident that people will see us as their real champion.”
Green party Leader Elizabeth May kicked off her campaign in Victoria, B.C., with a cri de coeur for action to combat climate change. She declared that this is the “most important” election in Canadian history.
“This election is about telling the truth to Canadians about how serious the climate emergency is,” May said.
She said the country needs to move away from fossil fuels “as fast as possible” with a goal of being completely dependent on renewable energy by 2030.
“We have to do it. It is not a choice,” May said.
She called for a united political front on the issue, dispensing with the “petty, short-term political considerations” she said has blocked meaningful progress in the past.
May is looking to capitalize on burgeoning popular support and perhaps steal a few seats from the other parties.
The first face-to-face election showdown will come quickly, at least for several of the leaders. Scheer, Singh and May will take part in the Maclean’s/ Citytv debate Thursday night, but Trudeau is taking a pass.