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Canadians voted for a sweeping change in government Monday, giving Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau a majority to end the nearly 10-year rule of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Election returns showed Trudeau's Liberals winning a majority of the 338 seats in Parliament. With 85% of polls reporting, the Liberals either won or were leading in 185 seats. The party needed to win 170 seats for a majority government.
Trudeau, 43, the oldest son of the late prime minister Pierre, will become the second youngest prime minister in Canadian history.
The story is being carried by USA Today and just about every major news outlet. There were some economic takes on the election as well.
takyon: Results at CBC and BBC. DeSmog Canada has an analysis focusing on potential shifts in environmental and science policies:
The Liberal party has taken a strong stance on the war on science in Canada, promising to free scientists to speak publicly about their work. Trudeau has also promised to instate a Parliamentary Science Officer to ensure transparency, expertise and independence of federal scientists. This position will mirror that of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
In addition to unmuzzling scientists, the party also wants to work collaboratively with the provinces, First Nations and other stakeholders when it comes to ocean management. This is significant in light of the Conservative government's de-funding of numerous marine science programs, including the only research being conducted into the effects of industrial pollutants on marine mammals. The Liberal party has promised to reinstate $40 million of funding for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
(Score: 2, Funny) by frojack on Tuesday October 20 2015, @06:37AM
(OK, it was pretty Obamaesque, but I'm still stoked.)
I sincerely hope that is not the case.
Would be ALL three North American nations were bankrupt at the same time.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by SanityCheck on Tuesday October 20 2015, @11:06AM
Hahahaha, very funny :)
Now for the dick part: there are 23 [wikipedia.org] countries in North America, including always forgotten Greenland. Oh Greenland, so close but yet so far.
(Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 20 2015, @11:58AM
The bigger dick part: Only two really matter; one more than the other (hint, hint: USA). The other 21 are 3rd world toilets full of brown people. 20 of them wouldn't make a dent in the world economy if they ALL disappeared. Mexico is lucky enough to provide slave labor the their neighboring US while also supplying illegal drugs for the US (and expanding that market to Europe). And Greenland? Don't make me laugh. There are what, 55 thousand people on an icy, barren wasteland that happens to be the 12th largest country by land mass in the world. There are tiny island nations and city-states that are more populated and productive.
So that brings us back to only 3 North American countries.
(Score: 5, Informative) by dry on Tuesday October 20 2015, @02:43PM
Well in the last 20 years, the Liberals balanced the budget 8 times and the Conservatives perhaps twice, depending on this year where the budget is projected to be balanced. The Conservatives also ran the largest deficit in the history of Canada while chanting "we're conservative, we know how to be fiscally sound"
Just like households do have to borrow money for things like mortgages, sometimes governments do as well and interest rates are currently low.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday October 20 2015, @05:51PM
depending on this year where the budget is projected to be balanced.
Don't get too used to that.
Trudeau has already indicated he plans on running C$25 billion ($19 billion) in deficits over three years to stimulate the economy with infrastructure spending, while increasing taxes on top earners and cutting them for the middle class.
Third link in TFS.
Don't know if C$25 Billion is a significant part of the Canadian Budget or not, but if the wiki page [wikipedia.org] is to be believed C$25 is about 10 percent. That is an enormous deficit to run up in one year.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by dry on Wednesday October 21 2015, @01:37AM
At least he was upfront about it unlike the Conservatives who first came to power bitching about the Liberals paying down the debt rather then immediately cutting taxes, cut taxes and proceeded to rack up a C$55 Billion deficit (and C$33.3Billion the next year ). The key is to pay down the debt when the country is not in recession.
I'm not a Liberal supporter but given the choice between them and the Fascists, I'd rather have them.