Canada: Trudeau calls an election on September 20 | International

Canadians go to the polls on September 20. After weeks of rumors and speculation, followed by more obvious partisan movements, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Rideau Hall, the residence of the Governor General of Canada, this Sunday to demand the dissolution of the legislature. Mary Simon, who has held the position since July 26, accepted the petition, kicking off the campaign for the federal election. At the end of the meeting, Trudeau stressed that Canadians “must choose how to end the fight against covid-19 and rebuild in the best way,” adding of his party: “I know we have the right one. plan, the right team and the proven leadership to face this moment ”.

The campaign will last 36 days, the minimum provided for by electoral law. The Trudeau Liberals formed a minority government after the October 2019 election results. The deadline for a new election was October 16, 2023, unless the government loses the confidence of the opposition majority in the lower house (a situation that did not occur) or that Justin Trudeau approached the Governor General of Canada to ask for a call to the polls. He did it this Sunday.

This will be Trudeau’s third election as Liberal leader. In October 2015, he became Prime Minister thanks to the 177 seats obtained by his party, thus forming a majority government. There are 338 ridings in Canada and to govern with a majority you need victory in at least 170 of them. Four years later, Trudeau obtained a new mandate. However, his party got 20 fewer seats and the Conservatives won the popular vote (1.2% more than the Liberals).

Trudeau, who turns 50 in December, has indicated in recent months that the opposition has pledged to block various initiatives presented by his government. Likewise, liberal circles argue that more vigorous action is needed for a post-pandemic economy. However, many voices in the Canadian media point out that Trudeau believes that a majority government could be within reach with this early call to the polls. An Angus Ried poll released on August 10 indicates that the Liberals have 36% of preferences and the Conservatives 31%. Another poll published a day later, and conducted by Abacus Data, shows 37% and 28% respectively.

Opposition forces say they are ready for the election race, although they have criticized Prime Minister Trudeau’s decision to call the election amid the fourth wave of the pandemic. Erin O’Toole, leader of the Conservative Party, noted that Trudeau had acted only “in his own interests”. For his part, Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party, called the decision “selfish”. Even Singh sent a letter a few days ago to the Governor General of Canada asking him not to accept Trudeau’s request. 72.8% of the Canadian population have received at least one dose of covid-19 vaccine; 63.9% have already been fully vaccinated. In addition to the situation derived from the coronavirus, other issues will have a substantial weight in the campaign. Environmental protection, reconciliation with indigenous peoples and relations with the United States and China will be at the heart of this scene of rallies, debates and electoral materials.