Prime Minister Stephen Harper was all smiles when he paid a campaign visit to Penticton during the second week in September. After almost a decade in power, Harper and his Conservatives were booted from office following Monday’s federal election results as Justin Trudeau and the Liberals swept into power with a majority government, finalizing one of the most unexpected and historic comebacks in Canadian political history. The Liberals were a distant third in polls when the campaign started 11 weeks ago. (Keith Lacey file photo)
After completing one of the most impressive and unexpected political comebacks in Canadian history, Justin Trudeau promised better days lie ahead for Canadians from coast to coast.
Trudeau, the son of legendary Canadian prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, will be Canada’s next prime minister after leading the Liberal Party to a stunning majority government victory after all the ballots were counted following Monday’s federal election.
Trudeau, 43, easily defeated Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party to waltz to victory 11 weeks after the campaign started in late August.
Trudeau and his Liberals were in third place in every single national poll heading into the campaign, which was the longest in modern Canadian history.
After attempting to win his fourth-consecutive victory, Harper announced he would be stepping down as the leader of the Conservative Party, but he did plan to remain as the MP for his Calgary riding.
Trudeau’s victory is historic not only because of how he steamrolled to victory, but because he will become the first second-generation prime minister in Canadian history as he follows in the footsteps of his father.
Pierre Elliot Trudeau served as prime minister for almost 16 years before retiring in 1984.
Trudeau quoted from Sir Wilfred Laurier when he first took to the stage for his acceptance speech Monday evening.
“Sunny ways my friends. Sunny ways,” Trudeau told his enthusiastic supporters in Montreal. “This is what positive politics can do.”
Canadians clearly wanted change and his campaign was all about offering positive change after almost 10 years of Conservative rule, said Trudeau.
“It’s time for change in this country my friends. Real change. We beat fear with hope,” Trudeau said. “We beat cynicism with hard work. We beat negative, divisive politics with a positive vision that brings Canadians together.”
Speaking to his supporters in Calgary, Harper made no mention about his political future, but the head of the Conservative Party released a statement indicating that the prime minister would step down.
“The people are never wrong,” Harper said, adding that he accepts the results without hesitation.
He said it was an “unbelievable honour to serve as your prime minister. The disappointment you also feel is my responsibility and mine alone.”
The Liberals sweep represented a complete reversal of their political fortunes after a crushing loss in 2011 that left them with only 36 seats in Parliament.
On Monday, the Liberals claimed 184 seats. They needed 170 to form a majority government.
They captured seats in every province. The Tories captured 99 seats, while the NDP won 44.
The Bloc Quebecois, meanwhile, was elected in 10 seats and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May was re-elected in B.C.
The Liberals finished with 39.5 per cent of the popular vote, almost the exact same number that swept Harper to power with a majority government four years ago.
The Conservatives finished with 31.9 per cent of the popular vote, while the NDP had 19.7 per cent.
Harper’s attempt to paint Trudeau as too inexperienced for the highest office in the land proved unsuccessful.
Harper has spent over nine years in power and 13 years as a party leader, having officially become leader of the Opposition as Alliance leader in May 2002.
Harper, 56, said he was proud of the campaign he ran.
“We put everything on the table, we gave everything we have to give, and we have no regrets whatsoever,” he said. “The disappointment you also feel is my responsibility and mine only.”
Harper pledged to help his party become an effective force as the Opposition and to prepare it for the next federal election.
“When the next time comes, this party will offer Canada a strong and clear alternative, based on our Conservative values,” he said.
“This is the seventh mandate you’ve given me, and it remains a true privilege to serve this vibrant city in the Parliament of Canada,” he told his local supporters.
The NDP and leader Thomas Mulcair were considered frontrunners when the campaign started, but were dealt a devastating blow with Monday’s election results.
The NDP lost close to 50 seats alone in Quebec, which in the last election was a significant source of the so-called orange wave.
Mulcair told his supporters that the election was about change and that Canadians had opted to turn the page on 10 years of Harper government and clearly rejected “the politics of fear and division.”
He said Trudeau had made ambitious commitments and Canadians will have high expectations for their next Parliament.
“With this election, Canadians have asked us all to work for them,” Mulcair said. “We will not let them down.”
Mulcair thanked voters for re-electing him in the Montreal riding of Outremont.
After his concession speech, an NDP spokesperson told CBC News that Mulcair will not be resigning as leader.
Mulcair said he had spoken with the other four federal party leaders before taking the stage.
“Despite our many differences on policy and on the way politics should be conducted, I thanked Mr. Harper for his service to our country.”
“I congratulated Mr. Trudeau on his exceptional achievement for both him and his party,” Mulcair said, adding that “in this campaign Mr. Trudeau made ambitious commitments to Canadians, and Canadians will have high expectations for the next Parliament.”
“During the last 78 days, the emphasis was put on that difference to allow Canadians to make a choice. And today, Canadians made a choice, and we respect it with all humility.”
Mulcair vowed New Democrat MPs would work “with other parliamentarians” to build a better future for all Canadians.
“We will be unwavering in our pursuit of better health care for Canadians. We will stand strong in our fight against climate change and to protect our land, air and water.”
“And we will be resolute in our efforts to build a true nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
