10 Justin Trudeau Election Facts - WMNews Ep. 50
After almost a decade of Conservative rule, it's all change in Canada, where red replaced blue as the predominant political color in 2015. Welcome to WatchMojo News, the weekly series from http://www.WatchMojo.com where we break down news stories that might be on your radar. In this instalment, we're counting down 10 crucial facts you should know about the Justin Trudeau election.
#10: Who Is Justin Trudeau? The Prime Minister
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Justin Trudeau is leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, and the eldest son of former Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau. On October 19th, 2015, he led the party to victory in the country’s election, and he became Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister when he was sworn in later that year. Since taking over leadership of the Liberals in 2013, Trudeau has spearheaded a massive revival in the party’s fortunes and popularity. During a relatively rapid personal rise to the top of Canadian politics, Trudeau has garnered a reputation as a ‘man of the people’, with some even branding him a ‘rock star’ politician. Elected at the age of 43, Trudeau is the second youngest prime minister in Canadian history.
#9: What Are Trudeau’s Qualifications? The Background
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Trudeau gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from McGill University, a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia, and, from 2002 to 2004 he studied engineering at l’Université de Montréal. He effectively began his career in politics in 2008 when he won the riding of Papineau in Quebec, becoming a Member of Parliament. At the time, many members of the media and other political parties called into question his lack of qualifications and life experience. Despite this, Trudeau was elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in 2013, before running for the position of Prime Minister two years later.
#8: What Are Trudeau’s Roots? The Dynasty
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Justin Trudeau’s election signified the first time in Canadian history that a child of a former Prime Minister was elected to the same position. Pierre Trudeau held two terms as PM, from April 1968 to June 1979, and from March 1980 to June 1984. During his career, Trudeau Sr. inspired the first wave of ‘Trudeaumania’. He’s noted for his handling of the Quebec sovereignty movement, and for implementing official bilingualism across the country, with some labeling him the ‘father of modern Canada’. Under his leadership, Trudeau saw the passing of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which recognized that every Canadian had certain liberties regardless of religion, race or color. It first became clear that Justin Trudeau was likely to follow in his father’s footsteps at Pierre Trudeau’s funeral in 2000, with Justin’s famous eulogy described as ‘the first manifestation of a dynasty’.
#7: What Is Trudeau’s Persona? The People’s Man
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To quote The Guardian newspaper, Justin Trudeau ‘has taken a circuitous route to power’. On top of a thoroughly well rounded education, he has racked up many a life experience. Trudeau has worked as a teacher, an actor, and a bungee jump coach. He has boxed and stripped for charity, and has found fame for his dancing, selfie taking, and variable facial hair. In short, Trudeau absolutely bucks the trend. He focused on running a positive campaign, free of attack ads and focusing on what his party could do for Canadians rather than what the other parties could not. He offers something completely different to the role of Prime Minister; a fashionable freshness that voters clearly appreciate.
#6: How Do Elections Work in Canada? The Debates
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The electoral system in Canada is built around the ‘first past the post’ system – much like in the United Kingdom. The country is divided into ridings (or constituencies), and political candidates compete for the most votes in any given riding. The candidate with the majority of votes in any riding then wins a seat in the House of Commons in order to represent that area as a Member of Parliament (MP). In terms of the party leaders, voters can follow their campaigns via extensive media coverage, including a series of televised debates, the outcome of which can prove hugely significant in terms of public opinion.
#5: What Are the Political Parties? The Candidates
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In the 2015 Canadian federal election, direct competition to the Liberals came from the incumbent Conservative Party, and the New Democratic Party – led by Stephen Harper and Tom Mulcair respectively. The Liberals won 184 seats in total, permitting the formation of a majority government led by Justin Trudeau, which was a difference of 148 seats from the previous election. The Conservatives won 99 seats (a decrease from 159 previously), and the NDP scored 44 seats (falling from 95 pre-election). The Quebec-centric Bloc Quebecois Party also picked up ten seats in 2015, and the Green Party won one. Historically, Canadian power has been passed between Conservatives and the Liberals, with Trudeau’s election signifying the country’s first Liberal PM since 2006.
#4: Who Is Trudeau Replacing? The Conservative
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Until Trudeau’s election victory, Conservative party leader Stephen Harper had held office for almost a decade, since February 2006. Harper maintained his position through the federal elections of 2008 and 2011, achieving a greater majority for his party on each occasion. During his tenure, Harper focused on reducing taxes and enlarging the military. He also worked hard to defend Arctic waters from growing Russian interest, securing the resources and territory for Canada. However, many critics accused Harper of borderline dictatorial rule during his time in office, with some viewing him as unfriendly towards the media, multiculturalism or those with dissenting opinions. His actions were cited by some as a main reason the party lost so much ground in 2015, with many Canadians simply voting against Harper rather than for the political party of their choice.
#3: What Is Justin Trudeau’s Political Platform? The Issues
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In terms of policies, Trudeau’s campaign laid a lot of importance on Canadian foreign policy. The new PM has promised to improve Canada’s relationship with the U.S., and to build a ‘constructive and productive relationship’ with the president. He has also indicated that he’ll halt Canada’s air campaign against ISIS in the Middle East, will make it easier for Syrian refugees to enter Canada itself, and he hopes to better Canadian relations with Iran. In other areas, Trudeau has promised decisive action on climate change and environmental issues, to reduce taxes for the middle class and has also promised to legalize marijuana.
#2: How Has the World Responded to Trudeau’s Election? The Mania
This election result is indicative of a massive social change in Canada, and has caught international attention accordingly. Within a matter of weeks, the Liberal Party jumped from third-most represented to first, with the achievement spearheaded by one of the most charismatic world leaders to emerge in recent years. It was Justin’s father, Pierre, who first inspired ‘Trudeaumania’, but the early signs are that his son has taken up the reigns in similar style, and with a similar skill.
#1: How Will This Change Canada? The Future
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After nine and a half years of Conservative rule, Trudeau’s election as Prime Minster is sure to inspire a massive social shift. The House of Commons has been given a brand new look, with not only the Conservatives losing ground, but the NDP also losing over half of their representation. The Liberal party secured more than half the seats in the House of Commons, thereby gaining a majority government. This means that legislation will be much easier to pass and it will limit the chances of an early election due to a vote of no confidence. Suffice it to say, political power has definitely passed into new hands. In the run-up to the 2015 election, the Conservatives had branded the Liberals as ‘just not ready’ – implying that Justin Trudeau was all style, and no substance. Now it’s time for Trudeau to step up, back up his promises, and prove that his polices, and personality, are more than just a passing trend. Did these facts get you thinking? To vote for which news story is covered next head over to WatchMojo.com/suggest, and be sure to hit that subscribe button for more newsworthy top tens published every week!
