Trudeau Prevails In Canadian Election

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held onto power in last week’s snap election. Trudeau’s Liberal Party appeared to have won only two more seats than it held before the election, largely signaling a status quo Parliament. As of September 25, the Liberals had won 159 seats, the Conservatives had 119, the Bloc Québécois had 33, and the NDP had 25.

Despite having only added a couple of seats to his roster, Trudeau said the vote provided “a clear mandate” as the government leads the country through the pandemic. As CTV News explained, the Liberal Party has pledged to focus on:

• The COVID-19 pandemic by offering legal protection for businesses that decide to require vaccinations, 10 days of paid sick leave for federal workers, and new funding for improved ventilation in schools.
• Restoring one million jobs lost during the pandemic through several employment and business benefits designed to bring people back to work.
• Bringing national greenhouse gas emissions to 40 and 45 percent below 2005 levels before the end of the decade and making Canada a net-zero country by 2050.
• Housing by building, preserving, or repairing 1.4 million homes over four years and investing $2.7 billion in funding for the National Housing Co-investment fund.
• Ensure that all Canadians have access to a family doctor and are able to afford prescription medication.

MSCI’s partners at the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters urged Trudeau’s government to work “with manufacturers to implement an effective and comprehensive industrial strategy for Canada” by focusing on four priorities:

• Helping the industry find the workers it needs;
• Stimulating investment in innovation and advanced technologies;
• Increasing Canadian exports; and
• Adopting an industrial net-zero strategy.

Want to read more about the impact Prime Minister Trudeau’s victory could have on public policy? Check out Politico, which has explored how last week’s win could impact U.S.-Canadian relations on several issues.