Early elections before Trump is sworn in would be best for Canada, ex-minister says – National
Former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister John Manley said it would be in Canada’s best interest to hold an election as soon as possible.
In a recent interview with Global News, Manley said he was concerned that an election after the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would mean the new federal government would be ill-equipped to adjust to the new administration.
“It would be in the best interests of the country for us to hold our federal elections and put a government in place, whether current or different, in time to deal with what comes out of Washington after January 20,” he said. Manley said. .
Trump, however, pledged to impose more tariffs on his trading partners. some argue that Canadian oil could be excluded from such a movewhile NATO defense spending This has been a great frustration for U.S. officials who have pressured Canada to spend more.
Border security and the risk of migrants crossing the northern border if Trump keeps his promise of mass expulsions has also drawn calls from Immigration Minister Marc Miller. that the Safe Third Country Agreement must be implemented by both countries.
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“We are going to face a very different environment bilaterally and globally and we better prepare,” Manley said. “They should really go to the people and ask for a mandate, because if they don’t get one, someone else is going to have to pick up the ball and figure out what to do.”
Despite frequent calls from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for an election, so far Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has given no indication that Canadians will go to the polls before the October 2025 deadline , under the Canadian Fixed Date Elections Act.
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters last week that he was in talks with opposition parties to try to overthrow the government.
However, the Bloc also hopes to pass two bills – one on supply management and another on old age pensions – and may not want an election if it continues to believe that these bills could be adopted in the House of Commons.
Meanwhile, according to a Global News exclusive Ipsos poll from September, support for the Liberal minority government recently reached a “new low” among Canadians, continuing for more than a year to trail the Conservatives by double digits.
The prime minister is also facing internal friction. Several members of his own caucus called for his resignation last month, fearing their constituents had left Trudeau behind.
Trudeau declared last month that he would remain Liberal leader.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
