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Cross Country Checkup

What's the future look like under the new Liberal government?

Liberal majority: They're back after almost 10 years in the political wilderness ...and expectations are high. Can the Liberals deliver on all their promises? What's your reaction to the win?
CBC Radio ·
Prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau walks on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, October 20, 2015. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)
Cross Country Checkup1:53:00October 25, 2015 - New Liberal Government

Majority government: The Liberals are back after almost 10 years in the political wilderness ...and expectations are high. What does the future look like under a Trudeau government? Can the Liberals deliver on all their promises? What's your reaction to the win? 

With guest host Duncan McCue.

GUESTS & LINKS
TWITTER & EMAIL
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INTRODUCTION

Canadians responded overwhelmingly this week to Justin Trudeau's promises of 'sunny ways' and 'better is always possible' ...and they rewarded him with a majority government. A sigh of relief was felt across the land, that even seemed to emanate from Conservative circles. People invoked references to movies such as the Wizard of Oz, and Back to the Future in an effort to explain the cultural shift. While it was a stunning come-from-behind victory, it was not out of proportion to the Conservatives' victory in the 2011 election. This time however, the Tories lost about 8% of their popular vote and were effectively banished to the opposition. The Liberals reaped the benefit of that shift, as well as gaining new voters ...and most significantly those deserting the NDP who chose to bet on the horse that could beat Stephen Harper.  

In fact, the 'back to the future' nature of the political shift is real, because things now look a lot like in years past where the two 'big tent' parties -- the Liberals and Conservatives -- would trade roughly 10% of the voters to award a winner with 40% and an opposition with 30% ...while the NDP occupied their position as the nation's conscience, far from power at 20%. This was a recurrent pattern in Canadian elections ...before the Bloc and Reform arrived to crash the parties. 

Mr. Trudeau's victory spells the end of the Liberal Party's decade in the political wilderness, and perhaps even its return as Canada's 'natural governing party.'  But like other campaigns about change and hope -- think Obama here -- there is a danger that expectations are raised too high.  The Liberal campaign was about optimism ...but it was also flowing with specific and not so specfic election promises, some of which will be a challenge to implement, and implementing them all a Sisyphean task.

We want to hear what you think now that the counting is done and the winner clear.

Justin Trudeau campaigned on change. Has politics changed already? Some say the tone certainly has.  And with more women, indigenous, and Quebec candidates elected to government, it seems the identity is changing too. So far there have been few complaints that 60% of voters voted against Mr. Trudeau, as was commonly heard after Mr Harper's victory in 2011.

What does the future look like under a Trudeau government?  What are your hopes? What are your concerns?

What should the priorities be? There is a long list: marijuana legalization, democratic reform, infrastructure spending, improve conditions in First Nations communities, reduce carbon emissions, revamp foreign policy, accept more refugees, increase spending for: healthcare, secondary education, pensions, and children. The agenda is ambitious. How do you think it will unfold?

Our question today: "What's the future look like under the new Liberal government?

I'm Duncan McCue  ...on CBC Radio One ...and on Sirius XM, satellite radio channel 169 ...this is Cross Country Checkup.

GUESTS

John Geddes
Ottawa bureau chief at Maclean's Magazine. He has covered federal politics and policy for more than two decades.
Twitter: @Geddes28

​Janice MacKinnon
Former finance minister of Saskatchewan and professor of fiscal policy at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

Tania Cameron
First Nations Rock The Vote organizer and 2008 & 2011 NDP candidate.
Twitter: @taniacameron

​David McLaughlin
Former Conservative Chief of Staff at the federal and provincial levels.
Twitter: @DavidMcLA

Anthony Sayers
Political science professor University of Calgary; author of Parties, Candidates and Campaigns in Canadian Elections.
Twitter: @AnthonyMSayers

LINKS

CBC.ca



National Post



Globe and Mail


Maclean's

TWITTER & EMAIL