On September 20th, Canada has conducted a general election to elect members of the House of Commons. The election has resulted in mostly the same standings as the 2019 election, with the Conservatives winning the popular vote, and the Liberals, led by incumbent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, forming yet another minority government thanks to more efficient votes. The results has prompted many Canadians to question Trudeau's decision to call the election and the necessity of having an election in the midst of a fourth wave of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Why was there an election?
Banking on the polls and approval ratings on his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a snap election in a bid to gain a parliamentary majority that he lost two years ago in 2019. People could choose to vote either in person at polling stations or by mail. The election costed C$612 million.
Lessons and takeaways
With the slimmest share of electoral support in history, Trudeau had lost his bargaining power of calling a snap election in bid of a majority, at least for the time being. The Liberals now need to govern in a more collaborative way in order to stay in power.
The Conservatives, on the other hand, would have to make a pivoting decision. Either reposition themselves to be more favorable to core-conservatives to attract PPC voters, or to keep building this big-tent and shift to a more moderate platform in hope of penetrating the Liberal fortress in the 905 area.
With 5 of the 7 recent federal elections forming a minority government, increasingly low voter turnouts, and parties winning the popular vote but failed to form government, Canada needs an electoral reform now more than ever, one that creates fair representation and also accommodates minor parties in parliament.