So, despite former prime minister Stephen Harper’s months-long Conservative campaign suggesting Justin was “Just not ready” – the vast majority of Canadians disagreed with him.
Prime Minister elect Justin Trudeau made history on Monday (Oct. 19) in leading his Liberals from third place to federal power on a platform of change.
We wonder, though, if Canadians supported Trudeau and his Liberals’ message that change was needed in this country, or if his party’s return to power was more a backlash against 10 years of heavy handed Harper manipulation, insistence that power be confined to his office, divisiveness, fear mongering and a negative/attack election campaign.
Who knows, maybe the Conservative game plan to have MP hopefuls avoid all-candidates forums and avoid talking to the media during the campaign actually went against the party.
To his credit, at least Harper only pulled a half-Prentice in stepping down as leader while continuing, for now, as MP for Calgary-Heritage. Possibly the backlash against Jim Prentice’s stepping down as both party leader and MLA in the earlier Alberta election, as the corpse of his Conservative party was still cooling, may have stuck with the former prime minister.
Twice in 2015 now, Albertans have been treated to a sweeping change of their political landscape, although for the most part they took no part in the Monday change (with visions of Pierre and the National Energy Program dancing in their heads, we assume).
As journalists, we wonder if change will trickle down into the Conservative ranks; as in, will a new, humbled, Conservative leader’s power remain ultimate, with all messaging and information sharing only allowed with his/her consent, a la Harper? Or will now-opposition MPs be tasked with lashing out at the Liberals on every possible occasion?
At any rate, change is what the Liberals promised – and must now deliver on.
We assume, though, that much like Rachel Notley’s NDP government in Alberta, Trudeau’s federal Liberals will need some time to adjust to the fact, and get over the shock, that they are now in power. Honestly, could even the staunchest Liberal supporter have predicted a third place-to-power election night?
Trudeau has said it will be a couple of weeks before a cabinet is named; being that he’s said it will be evenly split between male and female MPs, that may be an early challenge with many rookie MPs.
Those anticipating a tax cut for middle class wage earners will have to wait a bit, Trudeau apparently told U.S. President Obama he will halt the ISIL mission by Canadian Forces, and he’s already stated Alberta won’t be frozen out of federal proceedings due to ongoing Conservative support.
Change is in the works.
On the local front, the Outlook looks forward to a change in dealings with Parks Canada under a new to-be-named minister.
The clamps have been very tight in respect to information released from Canada’s flagship national park under Harper’s regime and we’re certainly hoping Parks can get back on a scientific footing that recognizes our national park system is one where ecological integrity rules, rather than special events and an imposed two per cent increase per year boost to tourism numbers.
