TRUDEAU DISSOLVES PARLIAMENT, CALLS ELECTION ON OCT 21
TORONTO:CANADA’S Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched his re-election campaign on Wednesday, saying that Canadians need to decide whether they want to return to the “failed policies” of a conservative government that believes in cuts and austerity.
Trudeau kicked off his bid to remain in office ahead of an October 21 vote after meeting the country’s governor general and dissolving parliament.
“Canadians have an important choice to make,” Trudeau said. “Will we go back to the failed policies of the past or will we continue to move forward?”
Trudeau channelled the star power of his father in 2015 when he defeated Conservative leader Stephen Harper, who ruled for nine years and was the most right-leaning PM in the country’s history. But the son of late PM Pierre Trudeau could now be in trouble. Polls say the opposition Conservative Party, with its unknown and untested leader Andrew Scheer, is running close to Trudeau’s Liberals.
Not since 1935 has a government that won a majority of seats in parliament in its first term lost power in the next election in Canada.
“Canada has been a beacon and has tried to lead by example but it’s really hard to lead by example when you are Canada and you are by yourself,” said Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group.
Trudeau has been admired by liberals around the world for his progressive policies in the Trump era, with Canada accepting more refugees than the US. His Liberal government has also strongly advocated free trade.