Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals Win Canada Election
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were returned to power Monday, 20th September 2021 in a contested election against Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, according to FRANCE 24.
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, whose party placed second, conceded defeat as results trickled in the election.
With polling stations likely to still be reporting results into the morning, it was not yet clear if the Liberals had gained enough seats to form a majority in parliament that would allow Trudeau to pass his agenda without opposition support.
Trudeau, who has been in power since 2015 and governing with a minority of House of Commons seats since 2019, decided to gamble on an early vote and capitalise on his government’s handling of the pandemic, which included massive spending to support individuals and businesses and a push for high vaccination rates.
Flanked by his wife Sophie Gregoire and their children on stage at a victory gala in the early hours of Tuesday, Trudeau said, “You (Canadians) are sending us back to work with a clear mandate to get through this pandemic into brighter days ahead.
“That’s exactly what we are ready to do”.