VOSS Posted July 27 Posted July 27 Quote Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rose to power in 2015 — and rescued the Liberal Party from irrelevance — on promises to bring "real change" and infuse Canadian politics with "sunny ways." Nearly nine years later, the forecast for the progressive icon is cloudy. His party, which has been slumping in the polls for more than a year, now trails the Conservatives by as many as 20 points and is vulnerable not only in key battlegrounds but also in traditional strongholds. The most recent blow was a special election loss last month to the Conservatives in Toronto-St. Paul's, a district that the Liberals had won (often, easily) since 1993. It was as if the Democrats had lost a special election in Manhattan, or the Republicans had fallen in Colorado Springs. Now Canadians are watching to see if Trudeau might be planning his own "walk in the snow," a repeat of the solitary stroll that his father, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, claimed to have taken in an Ottawa blizzard the day before he announced his resignation in 1984. Trudeau, 52, has given no indication that he plans to step down — and it's unclear any of the alternatives would have more success turning things around. By law, the next federal election must be held by Oct. 20, 2025. "I want to be clear that I hear people's concerns and frustrations," Trudeau said after the by-election. "These are not easy times, and it's clear that I and my entire Liberal team have much more work to do to deliver tangible, real progress that Canadians across the country see and feel." Trudeau's woes echo those of many incumbent leaders, who are struggling amid high inflation and concerns about affordability, particularly in housing. Most housing markets in Canada are at or near worst-ever affordability levels, the Royal Bank of Canada reported in December. Trudeau has tried to reverse his slide. Last summer, he overhauled his cabinet in an effort to inject "new energy" into the government. He brought a marketer with a self-described focus on "understanding Millennials and Generation Z" to his team. He walked back part of the carbon tax, one of his signature policies, in what analysts said was a bid to shore up support in Atlantic Canada — angering not just his own environment minister, but also officials elsewhere who wanted carve outs of their own. He spent weeks on a cross-country tour to preview a budget aimed at "generational fairness," breaking with a tradition of keeping budget details secret until the document is introduced in Parliament. None of it has helped. "I think they're at a stage where it really doesn't matter what they do or what they say," said pollster Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute. "I hate to use this phrase, but it's like they 'jumped the shark.' Nobody is listening." Unlike the Democrats' pressure campaign on Biden, Liberal lawmakers here have kept whatever angst they might feel about Trudeau private. One member of his caucus has urged him to step down, but there hasn't been a full revolt — yet. "[The Liberals] are very much perceived as, I think correctly, the party of Justin Trudeau," Young said. "It's really difficult to imagine someone else coming along and being able to redefine the party and the government in a meaningful way in the time that they have left before the next election." "The desire of voters wanting change in the current environment is not limited to Canada," said Arnold, chief strategy officer of the public opinion firm Pollara. "I feel like we're in this post-covid funk across the Western world where people are just really frustrated with their quality of life … "Voters are just looking for change and they don't really care if it's left wing or right wing or someone with 34 convictions." Source
BOOMBAYAH Posted July 27 Posted July 27 The 180 on Canada's PR is crazy. I remember growing up all I heard was it was super nice and everyone was friendly, now when I hear about Canada it's someone talking about how much of a mess the country and government is. 1 2 1
SoldierofLove Posted July 27 Posted July 27 (edited) It hurts me to say it but... I get it. One of the main issues people are upset about is immigration/refugees and tbh I can understand why. And this is coming from me, a bleeding heart liberal. The issue is very glaring. They're on the streets outside of shelters with nowhere to go. There was just no plan for so many people to arrive in Canada in such a short amount of time. This exacerbates the housing crisis and everything else that comes along with it. I fear the Liberals won't have enough time to turn things around before the next election. It could be a total wipeout for them on election day. Edited July 27 by SoldierofLove 1 1 1
Capris Groove Posted July 27 Posted July 27 Though he's not fully responsible for this of course, the cost of living here compared to the wages is outrageous. So many people flee to the US for a better quality of life. Canada is only a better place to be in (monetarily) if you're poor. If you're middle class, you'll get paid more in the US and the cost of living is lower. Trudeau has promised change to affordable housing and it's only gotten worse.
Princess Aurora Posted July 27 Posted July 27 (edited) I mean, hasn't he been Prime Minister for almost a decade or so? It's pretty normal they got tired of him. Edited July 27 by Princess Aurora
Generation Braindead Posted July 27 Posted July 27 5 hours ago, SoldierofLove said: It hurts me to say it but... I get it. One of the main issues people are upset about is immigration/refugees and tbh I can understand why. And this is coming from me, a bleeding heart liberal. The issue is very glaring. They're on the streets outside of shelters with nowhere to go. There was just no plan for so many people to arrive in Canada in such a short amount of time. This exacerbates the housing crisis and everything else that comes along with it. I fear the Liberals won't have enough time to turn things around before the next election. It could be a total wipeout for them on election day. I agree, the housing crisis is critical. There are hundreds of homeless people everywhere in our city. I don't think the government has had a larger deficit. He didn't plan before letting every immigrant into this country and giving them government support while they found work. 1
WhateverYouWant Posted July 27 Posted July 27 (edited) Housing has become a huge problem. It would be awesome if I didn't have to pay $2,000/month for my one bedroom apartment. Id get it if I lived in BC or Ontario but I live in...... Saskatchewan.... To find anything less your then living in the sketchy parts of the city and still paying at least $1,000 or more. I make good money yet owning a house is only a dream with only one income. Love my parents but I probably won't own a house until they pass away and I get inherited whatever they have left. That or find a partner that also makes good money. Our downtown is filled with homeless people and nobody is doing anything to help. It's summer now but it gets to -30-40 during the winter. It's sad to see. There isn't many places for them to go as there is a overwhelming number of homeless people. I have gotten hotels for people for the night cause otherwise they would die with our winters. He wasn't that bad and definitely the best option. But change is good. I'm ready for someone new now. Edited July 29 by WhateverYouWant 1
midnightdawn Posted July 27 Posted July 27 (edited) He should have resigned a year or two ago. When you've been in office as long as he has things can only go downwards and voters want change. Leave when you're popular and not thrown out of office. Edited July 27 by midnightdawn 1
AvadaKedavra Posted July 28 Posted July 28 (edited) Why is rent so expensive everywhere. Just do something about it Edited July 28 by AvadaKedavra 2
Eat The Acid Posted July 28 Posted July 28 He needs to resign. 9 years is too long to lead a country These power hungry fools clasp to power as long as they can. So egotistical. 2
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