Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Announces Federal Election on September 20: Faces Flak from the Opposition

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced that federal elections would be held on September 20, 2021, after he dissolved the parliament on Sunday. The snap election will take place less than two years after the Liberal party gained power in 2019. The election campaign will likely be for 36 days (the legal minimum).

While announcing the elections, Justin Trudeau said that Canadians deserve to have an opinion about how the fight against COVID-19 should be finished, and what steps should be taken to build back the currently shattered Canadian economy.



Source-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_history_of_Justin_Trudeau#/media/File:Trudeau_visit_White_House_for_USMCA_(cropped).jpg

Opposition leaders criticized Justin Trudeau’s decision by saying that he gave more importance to gaining a majority in the parliament than the health and safety of Canadians. The opposition leaders also criticized the timings of the elections by highlighting that the time for elections is not right as the fourth wave of the COVID-19 disease is spreading all over the country.

Governor-General Mary Simon had agreed to Justin Trudeau’s request to dissolve parliament. Addressing the people of Canada shortly after dissolving the parliament, Justin Trudeau said that Canada is at a crucial moment and highlighted that it was most important since 1945 and mentioned that Canadians need to decide how they want to proceed.

Justin Trudeau stated, “The decisions your government makes right now will define the future your kids and grandkids will grow up in. So, in this pivotal, consequential moment, who wouldn’t want a say? Who wouldn’t want their chance to help decide where our country goes from here?”



Challenging the opposition leaders, Justin Trudeau also asked why they don’t think that the people of Canada deserve a say.

Opposition leaders highlighted that there was no need for dissolving the parliament as the Liberals have been doing whatever they want in the recent past, be it passing pandemic relief bills, getting the budget passed, and surviving the confidence vote.

Conservation Leader Erin O’Toole stated, “A leader who cared about the best interests of Canadians would be straining every sinew to secure the recovery right now. Instead, Justin Trudeau has called an election.” He also added that Canadians “deserve to know what their politicians will deliver, they deserve to know that there’s a plan, and they deserve a government that will keep its word.”

Jagmeet Singh, the NDP leader, launched his campaign in Montreal and also criticized Justin Trudeau. He called the election announced by the PM a selfish summer election. He also took credit for ensuring more generous emergency programs by stating, “It was New Democrats that delivered the help that people needed. Everyone across Canada benefited from New Democrats being in Ottawa, and I say to folks imagine how much more we could do with more New Democrats elected.”



When Justin Trudeau dissolved the parliament, the Conservatives had 119 seats, the Liberals had 155, the NDP had 24, the Bloc Québécois had 32, and the Greens just had two. There was also one vacancy and five independent candidates. To know more about the upcoming elections, click here

Source:

https://www.trailtimes.ca/news/trudeau-says-canadians-deserve-a-say-at-pivotal-moment-triggers-sept-20-election/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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