This past weekend, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for a snap federal election. In just over 5 weeks, 6 parties will be campaigning across the country before election day on September 20th, 2021. The next election was initially scheduled for October 2023, but after immense pressure and hardships during the pandemic, Justin Trudeau called for an election in hopes of regaining a majority government. Here’s everything you need to know about the 6 election candidates.
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Justin Trudeau
Liberal Party
Justin Trudeau is heading into this election in hopes of looking past the last miserable two years. He vouches that the liberal party supported Canadians through the pandemic and will continue to do so as the economy begins to rebuild. If elected, Trudeau plans on wrapping up some unfinished business with climate change. He also plans on working towards Indigenous reconciliation and cement some legacy-making policies with inequities. The liberal party is also entering the campaign with signed agreements with multiple provinces to bring child care costs to $10 a day within five years.
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Erin O’Toole
Conservative Party
Erin O’Toole is Canada’s Official Opposition Leader and over the past few months we’ve heard a lot from him. The Conservative Party has put together a 5-point recovery plan under its “Secure the Future” platform to reignite the economy. The plan involves:
- Recovering 1 million jobs lost during the pandemic within one year
- Strengthening Canada’s accountability and transparency laws
- Slow down pandemic spending “in a responsible way” to balance the budget over the next decade
- Establish a Canada Emergency Preparedness Plan with a sufficient stockpile of personal protective equipment
- Create the Canada Mental Health Action Plan to combat the mental health crisis across the country.
Yves-Francois Blanchet
Bloc Quebecois
The Bloc Quebecois leader wasn’t too happy about Trudeau calling for a snap federal election. Since the last election, Blanchet has helped pass Bill 96, which gives Quebec Premier Francois Legault’s the ability to amend its constitution and affirm Quebec with French as its official language. During this year’s campaign, Blanchet believes the Liberals will be their primary competition in Quebec. He is looking forward to have a real discussion about the future of the economy and the possibility of exiting the oil industry by opting for more sustainable energies.
Jagmeet Singh
New Democratic Party
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was also not fond of Trudeau calling on a federal election. He hopes that these next 4 years will hold a New Democratic government. Singh says he’s a hopeless optimist and his compassion is leading him to make systemic changes. The party is pushing for more COVID-19 aid programs and promises including:
- Universal pharmacare
- Guaranteed livable income
- Free tuition
- Wealth tax
Annamie Paul
Green Party
Annamie became Green Party leader during the pandemic. She is the first Jewish women and first Black party leader in Canada. She is a pervious lawyer in Toronto hoping to connect with Torontonians during her campaign. Annamie plans on skipping the traditional coast-to-coast campaign and is focusing on winning her own seat in Toronto. Plans include a Green climate plan and how they’ll be tackling the international climate emergency.
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Maxime Bernier
People’s Party
The People’s Party is a new party to Canada and was created in 2018 to bring together common sense, populism, classical conservatism and libertarianism. Their campaign involves phasing out the supply management system for the country’s dairy farmers. Reducing equalization payments to provinces. Reducing government interventions in the free market. Lowering the number of immigrants and refugees accepted to Canada. Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, restricting the definition of hate speech in the Criminal Code and withdrawing from all United Nations commitments. Beriner is against lockdowns and Vaccine passport documentation.
For more information on the 2021 Federal Election visit elections.ca.
Feature Image: THE CANADIAN PRESS/SEAN KILPATRICK
