Canada: Coalition Government
Canada’s Liberal Party was projected to win Monday’s House of Commons election, but they will hold a slimmer edge over the Conservative Party — which picked up more seats than the polling had projected.
At last count, the Liberals had taken or were leading for 165 seats while the Conservatives were ahead in the races for 147 seats. Three other parties also picked up more widely scattered seats — with the Bloc Québécois taking 23, the New Democratic Party 7 seats and the Green Party 1 seat. The seats –called ridings by the Canadians — still are subject to final tabulations, so minor adjustments remain possible.
Still, the count means Liberty Party won’t have an outright majority of 172 seats. How will they re-elect Mark Carney as Prime Minister? They will have to offer concessions to bring the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party and the Green Party, or any combination of those parties, under the Liberal coalition.
Here, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre delivers his response after the dramatic Canadian election night. Poilievre, who led in the polls for much of the campaign, saw his advantage evaporate in the final days amid direct intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump, who renewed trade threats and provocatively suggested Canada become America’s 51st state. Poilievre forcefully rejected Trump’s remarks, declaring, “Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent.” Throughout the campaign, Poilievre focused on affordability, crime, and the need for change, warning against a “fourth Liberal decade.”
In other words, it looks like Trump might have sapped the Conservatives. If so, he screwed the pooch. Certainly brash, but not too smart!
