Canadians head to the polls – you guys have polling stations, right? – in a few days. This is Canada’s national election, but it’s a parliamentary system, so that means Canadians are voting for the MPs and whichever party gets the majority will determine the prime minister. Right? Right. So, yes, Justin Trudeau is “up for re-election,” but the Liberal Party is the one on the ballot, and you’re voting for your local MP. I’m just explaining this for our American readers, who might not understand parliamentary systems!
We haven’t talked much about Justin Trudeau in several weeks, not since all of the blackface controversy last month. To be clear, Trudeau wasn’t doing blackface last month. We just found out in September that Trudeau spent too much time in his teens and 20s wearing race like a costume. I actually had to stop covering the blackface stories because I was losing count of how many times Trudeau had been photographed that way. It’s a mess and yes, it’s affected his standing in most of the polling. Bloomberg said this week that Trudeau is in the political fight of his life.
So… is it weird that Barack Obama is suddenly getting involved? As an American, I can only look at our political system in utter despair, but I still believe that… current or former presidents should not get involved in other countries’ elections. So I found this slightly strange:
I was proud to work with Justin Trudeau as President. He's a hard-working, effective leader who takes on big issues like climate change. The world needs his progressive leadership now, and I hope our neighbors to the north support him for another term.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 16, 2019
How is this playing in Canada? It hasn’t made much of a blip over here, probably because Trump is too busy asking other countries to interfere in OUR elections. Does Obama’s endorsement help or hurt Trudeau? I tend to think Obama is still very popular internationally, so maybe it helps Trudeau? Trudeau responded too:
Thanks my friend, we’re working hard to keep our progress going. https://t.co/l4V42PZbef
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 16, 2019
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and Backgrid.
Nope. Still not voting for the fake math teacher. And agree with Kaiser, Obama has no business in this.
Well as long as you’re not voting for the American, fake insurance salesman who doesn’t stand during O Canada and hates women’s, LGBTQ, and minority rights? You do you.
Obama’s endorsement doesn’t effect me at all, and yes I’ll be voting Liberal to try and avoid disaster.
me too.
1. Trudeau is stable, has not done anything weird. did not continue the bad things the conservatives had done with the environment
2. handles international relations (us, china) well as I can imagine anyone would
3. there is only one other person who has the chance this year to win, andrew sheer,he has never said anything thoughtful/ intelligent in all the media I’ve seen of him. whenever Trudeau has messed up sheer says something he thinks is clever but it’s not. haven’t heard any ideas from sheer of something he would do better.
sheer is the only other candidate who could win and he’s a bad candidate
Trudeau has excellent policies; that’s what I care about. And mocking him for having been a teacher is worse than mocking AOC for being a bartender. Hard work builds good character. Kind of like being born rich and playing a caricature on TV does NOT build good character.
Oil pipelines and Indigenous treatment.
WORD.
me too.
Jagmeet Singh all the way. I’m surprised it wasn’t covered here how Rihanna followed him on insta the other day.
Obama needs to stay out of this.
Liberal policies are NOT great not at all. I mean unless you think passing pipelines and doing nothing to improve and honor indigenous treaties and treatment to be fair and good. I most certainly don’t.
Jagmeet Singh was followed by Rihanna and actually chatted with her, but no one seems to know about it. As BC voter it frustrates me to hear the Ontarians say they are going liberal, when there are some amazing NDP and Green Candidates out there. Please don’t hand those liberals a majority government. The truth is party wise they side much closer to the conservatives than they do the other parties.
At this point I just hope people vote. So frustrating.
Sheer is pure evil … fake math teacher all the way. (And, he actually WAS a math teacher.) Unlike Sheer, who never was an insurance salesperson. And as far as Obama goes, he has more class and grace in his pinky finger than most of us humans. I don’t think listening to him is ever a bad thing.
Sheer, much like Harper is a horrible person, and not at all what Canada represents. I’m with you pineapple!
Trudeau actually held a job and taught and volunteered before he got into politics–unlike Sheer, who we taxpayers have supported since he was 22 or so, by going right from college into Harper’s Conservative Reform Alliance Party (similar to the U.S.’s Tea Party at the time). We’ve been supporting him ever since — never held a job in the private sector — well, for a couple of months as a gofer for an insurance company, about which he lied saying he was an accredited insurance broker…and I think he had a paper route as a kid. So do not conflate the two; I want to see this country going forward, not back about fifty years.
@pineapple. Agree with you a 100% on your take on Scheer and Obama. Trudeau has disappointed me but I sure don’t want Doug Ford 2 heading up my country. Voting NDP will only split the vote and guarantee a Scheer win.
I’m not a fan of the libs and never actually voted for them because I can afford that (safe NDP riding), but I much prefer a teacher (not fake and a respectable job, yay teachers!!! You’re amazing and thank you all!) to a Canadian version of Mike Pence. Any freackin’ day
Oh please. (I’m late, sorry – was busy accessing the Canadian health system in multiple ways this morning, and my prescription cost $2.50 CAD because we are allowed to negotiate discounts with providers.)
I heard some older ladies yesterday saying they knew people who were voting for our Liberal MP specifically because they thought the attack on Trudeau for his blackface was overdone. (I think he deserved all the criticism, but also that he learned a painful lesson – politically and personally.)
Scheer’s a Harper protege and a liar, and not only that, he’s a cool liar – completely unperturbed about his past lies and present lying. It comes way too easily to him, which suggests something very bad about his character.
I think Trudeau is vain and somewhat arrogant but that he surrounds himself with decent people, that teaching is an honourable way to make a living – and he was licensed!, and that he’s been a pretty good steward on the international stage. Managing Trump is on my top 3 criteria. Trudeau I think has been generally positive and affirming for women, too. Scheer would never be.
I’m like a million other Canadians who want ranked voting or other electoral reform so it doesn’t come down only to keeping Conservatives out of power, but as they’ve become the Canadian party of racism and reactionary social policies, I’ll do whatever it takes.
I just want to highlight one thing you said: Trudeau surrounds himself with good, competent people! I really appreciated the cabinet he put together after the last election, and that alone is skewing my vote towards the Liberal party again this time around.
Two words: Chrystia Freeland. She’s the one who should be leading the Liberal party!
Being an educator is a a proper occupation, disparage him for other things but not for being a teacher of any variety. It’s such a tired insult.
Scheer is the most unqualified person to ever run for PM and there will be enough conservative premiers along with him curtail the rights of many, eye on the prize everyone.
Re pipelines: it is a lower carbon intensity mode of transport while we diversify, wouldn’t you want the world to be using more of ours and less of Saudi Arabia and Russia’s? The demand still exists. It is the pragmatic approach to a longer solution.
Scotchy, Ontario resident here, and I am NOT voting liberal. After that jackass gave a convicted terrorist 10 million dollars, but tells veterans they’re asking for more than he can give, I’m done.
Oh please! Omar Kadr is a child soldier, not a convicted terrorist (his father would have been, but he’s dead). He was captured and sent to Guantanamo at 15 to be tortured and that goes against every international treaties we ever signed. Paul Martin and then Harper for 10 years let him rot there even if it was illegal, even if all the other countries had brought back their citizens in their own land, even when the US was telling Canada to take him back.
He received 10 millions in a settlement because had he brought the government to court, he would have likely got 30 or more, add the costs of lawyers and use of the justice system and really, 10 millions was a bargain. And again: he was a child soldier and we let the US torture him for 15 years!!! Saying “but the vets” is akin to saying we shouldn’t welcome refugees because there are homeless in the streets: it’s whataboutism at its worst. Government can do many things at once and trying to reach a humane and sensible deal with a person Canada let down many times and who’s childhood was robbed takes nothing away from the vets.
Oh, gosh. What is Ivanka going to be like if Mr Trudeau is not re-elected?
In jail either way.
Zing!
I’m just gonna say it: it’s interesting that Obama will endorse Trudeau, but hasn’t come out endorsing Biden, his own VP.
I would say it’s less controversial to endorse a politician from another country than one from his own party. I don’t blame him if he’s distancing himself from Biden and the rest of the field.
Biden said he specifically asked Obama not to endorse him. We have no way of knowing if Obama was intending to endorse him or not, but Biden got ahead of the questions by saying that.
Mia- did not know that about Biden. Good info.
Esmom- I’d agree with you except it’s pretty normal for a former president to endorse his VP. But then, Obama has always worked harder than anybody else to avoid the faintest whiff of scandal. He’s had to.
It’s still in the primary season. Obama will endorse whatever Democrat is chosen as the party nominee. This says nothing about Biden and Obama, and everything about it being too soon.
^^^This.
With all due respect, get yer nose out! You cannot possibly measure the current electoral climate from across the border. While I am personally tired of all these bullshit mongers, Trudeau has burnt too many bridges. *never voted for him in the first place*. A little overthrow of the government won’t hurt….just not in the Scheer way.
Unfortunately, any vote that is not for the Liberal party IS a vote for Sheer. So, thanks for that. We cannot even begin to fathom how many bridges Sheer (mini-Trump) will burn, but I’m sure he’ll show us fast enough.
I’m hoping for an NDP/Liberal coalition government.
Uhh, no. Not necessarily. i don’t want Scheer in office at all whatsoever, but neither do I want to vote Liberal. Fear mongering at its finest.
You’re right – not necessarily. There is a veeeery minute chance that there would be enough NDP voters to win the election. But that is highly unlikely. So, without a coalition, the votes will be split between the Liberals & NDPs, giving an unfair advantage to the Conservatives.
Look, I don’t like it any more than you do. But numbers are numbers.
My area is almost split between the Liberals and Conservatives. I really like the NDP guy but a vote for him would be a wasted vote. And I’d vote for a Kardashian before I’d vote for Scheer so Trudeau it is.
My riding is died in the wool conservative, so I’m just gonna vote my heart and go green.
“i don’t want Scheer in office at all whatsoever, but neither do I want to vote Liberal. Fear mongering at its finest.”
You sound like an American in 2016. We’re the ghost of Canada Future if you don’t heed our warning. Don’t make perfect the enemy of good.
Exactly! Just look at the polls people; at this point you’ve got to use your head, not heart, to vote. If you give two wiffs about maintaining all that is good in our country, then you’d want to keep the Cons out with a Liberal vote. NDP looks sweet, but it’s just not going to happen this time around. Also Obama can endorse; he’s a citizen of the world. The decisions of our government will have an economical and environmental impact beyond our borders.
good points. my riding has been an ndp stronghold for years so i doubt that it will shift but yes, anyone but scheer 🙂
lol @hezzer19 – you ARE essentially voting for a Kardashian if you’re voting for Trudeau. Let’s see: loves selfies – CHECK. Loves himself – CHECK. Loves to play dress up – CHECK. Dumb as a knob – CHECK. Shamelessly self-promoting – CHECK. The list goes on.
It’s a good thing he’s pretty, cause there ain’t much else to offer.
@coolspray He’s still better than Scheer. I know that’s not saying much but what else can I do.
I live in Andrew Scheer’s riding and it felt very effing good to not vote for him on Monday in advance voting. Not that it will make too much of a difference but one can only hope.
A little overthrow of the government has hurt every time it’s been tried lately. Weren’t people voting for Brexit to shake things up a bit without really wanting the actual brexit? Wasn’t Trump supposed to “drain the swamp”? Even the Fords were meant to be a change from politics as usual. None of this went/is going well.
I remember thinking when the 1st Harper minority government was elected that it wouldn’t be so bad, that it’d give time for the Libs to clean up, send the rotten apples away and so on and that the conservatives/reform party wouldn’t have time to mess things up too much… Oh how wrong I was! I don’t want to see this happening again
Canadians kick people out, we do not “overthrow.” Until we get electoral reform, it’s essentially a 2-party system, so you better hope for no “revolution” and rather some stability. These so-called populist movements are actually right-wing white supremacist movements coupled with protecting the fatcats, masquerading as populism.
Forgive me, but that sounds so American, lol. “Stay out of our politics.” You don’t have to live in a country to comment on their politics if you’re informed enough. It’s Barack Obama, ffs!
Where I live (Saskatchewan) it’s between the NDP and the Conservatives (zero liberal support) so the only way to “vote liberal” is to vote NDP. They’re the only ones with a chance to beat the conservatives in my riding. Sadly a case of voting for what you don’t want.
Justin Trudeau is in the pocket of big business. He is not in favour of workers rights and his actions are harmful to the environment. His repeated blackface makes clear he is no progressive either. Hejust coopted those positions when it became popular with the electorate.
Obamas interference in Brexit ref did not go down well at all in UK, can’t see this going down well in Canada. Looks too preachy.
People who dislike Trudeau weren’t going to vote for him anyway. Obama’s endorsement is for the undecided centrist left voters.
I agree with you 100%. While I personally like Obama, he shouldn’t be endorsing Trudeau. I also don’t appreciate foreign funded special interest groups that discourage and derail Canadian oil interests in Canada. We are more than capable to supply our own oil cleanly, safely and cheaper than Saudi Arabia or the US. Trudeau is not committed to democracy plain and simple. His flagrant abuse of his power has been on full display. He is by all accounts a total dimwit . At least he should have surrounded himself with seasoned cabinet ministers and diplomats. He screwed up trade with China, screwed over our farmers in NAFTA and divided Canada. Not since Trudeau senior have we seen a rise in the BLOC and western Canada feeling abandoned by the rest of the country. Great job Trudeau on creating such a divide.
No Canadian oil is clean, it’ll never be. The only way Canadian oil can be clean is by remaining in the grounds as it should. And this Jason Kenney/Rebel Media talking point about foreign-funded special interest groups (ie George Soros, lol) trying to derail the Canadian oil industry has been debunked so many times it’s not even funny anymore. Even JJ Mccullough wrote about how silly and a waste of time those conspiracy theories were
Arpeggi, thanks. THERE IS NO CLEAN FOSSIL FUEL. Canada has to face up to this at some point — hopefully soon. It’s time to diversify the economy, especially in Alberta.
Obama endorsed Macron in the French election, too. People commented on that, too. I think Obama’s just trying to help maintain a smidgen of stability on a rapidly shaken world order.
There is also no way to extract lithium or dispose of lithium batteries CLEANLY. Pick your poison.
” I think Obama’s just trying to help maintain a smidgen of stability on a rapidly shaken world order.”
I agree.
The US oil is already cleaner to extract than ours, same goes for oil from the Middle East or Northern Europe. There, I picked my poison. We absolutely don’t need the tar sands and the planet can’t afford its extraction. That being said, the goal is to ultimately reduce growth and use other sources of energy (we’re lucky in Canada, we have hydroelectricity and plenty of it without even needing to flood more lands to build new power plants). So there’ll be less need for lithium too
This may sound a bit harsh, but a good portion of Canada certainly benefits from the transfer payments that Alberta contributes to. Quebec received 11.7 BILLION dollars in transfer payments last year. Alberta received nothing, but had to pay. Where do you think some of that money comes from? Oil.
@Kelly, and so what? We can do with less money transfers (money used to be transferred the other way around, how d’you think the oil infrastructure was purchased?), but we can’t do with more tar sands because we only have one Earth. Alberta had years to divert its economy, there are great universities there, lots of biotech startups, engineers, etc., they didn’t. We need to stop abusing our natural resources, money won’t save us.
The election is on Monday. Justin Trudeau is the leader of the Liberal party (not Labour). You’re right about how we elect our representatives. You vote for your local candidate and not the party. We are likely to end up with a minority government after this election (no party will win enough seats to form government on their own, and will need to rely on the support of other parties). If that happens, Trudeau will get first chance to form government as he is the current prime minister. He will look to the NDP, Greens (if they win any seats) and Bloc (Quebec’s federal party) to try to get the 170 votes he needs on confidence motions. If he can’t do it, the Conservatives will get a shot. If they can’t do it either, we will have another election (UGH).
It’s playing in Canada exactly as you would expect. Obama is very highly regarded in Canada and his endorsement does carry weight (a poll in July of this year showed that 17% of Canadians chose Obama as their most admired man – more than double the closest competitor). Conservatives are losing their minds and complaining about foreign interference.
He’s no longer a politician. Trying to repress the ability of former political leaders to comment on global politics would significantly limit discourse. I don’t have a problem with Obama voicing his opinion just like I wouldn’t have a problem if George Bush voiced his. They are private citizens. I’m confident that if it was a former republican politician giving an endorsement of Andrew Scheer that Conservatives would magically have no problem with it, just like they suddenly were gravely offended by the brown-face scandal (when the Conservative leader just days before had said that candidates who have done racist/sexist/other questionable things in the past should be forgiven if they apologize).
Exactly.
Thank you. I didn’t have the energy to go over everything, so I’m very glad you did!
Yes, thank you!
Sorry for the mistakes, I tried to do a Canada thing and I failed.
No you did fine! You got the most important parts right 🙂 Our system is completely different from the US and sort of like the UK but not quite. It’s confusing!
You did great!
The weird thing that I still don’t grasp in Canada is the fear of coalition government. What is so frightening about different parties having to work together to represent more of the people? Other parliamentary democracies are comfortable with coalition. Harper really put fear into conservative-leaning voters about that, and it wasn’t right.
Well, you did just apologize and THAT was very Canadian of you… haha.
Most Canadians like Obama (even some small c conservatives who aren’t right wing nuts) and his endorsement might make a difference to the centrist -left undecided voters who were considering to vote NDP instead of Liberal. The hissy fits made by the conservatives certainly confirms that Obama’s opinion still carries some weight in many circles.
Having a black man offer his support in the light of recent scandals is powerful too. Politically, this is his come back to deal with that. It’s a power move, and I don’t blame Obama for it.
US and Canadian economics are inextricably tied. He most likely wants a ‘left wing’ leader who won’t disrupt too much. Libs will focus on maintaining the pipeline, barely raising taxes on corporations and Uber wealthy if at all, and pretty much the status quo as normal. They won’t remove privileges from the disadvantaged, but they also won’t attack the system that creates these inequalities.
I think NDP, Green, and every party that’s not Liberal has a right to feel angry at Obama’s statement, not just Conservatives.
NDP is more environmentally focused than the Liberals – why didn’t Obama endorse them?
Or, more importantly, why didn’t Obama endorse the GREENS? If his true goal is to get votes for an environmentally focused party, and not just do his buddy a favor, why didn’t he endorse Elizabeth May?
That’s why I call BS on Obama’s endorsement. Would LOVE it if he commented on Trudeau’s blackface though.
@coolspray – Obama is allowed, as a private citizen, to endorse whomever he wants. Period. Trudeau’s youthful indiscretion was not done as a deliberate insult or affront to people of colour, as is obvious by Obama’s endorsement. Stop making this into an insult to other parties. It’s called free speech.
Perhaps because neither the NDP or Greens have even a remote chance of forming government? Perhaps because a vote for them (in many ridings) will help Andrew Scheer gain power, and we all know what his position is on climate change. Perhaps because he thinks that the Liberal plan for climate change makes sense? Maybe even because he has worked with Trudeau and knows him well enough to make an informed endorsement? Just a few reasons off the top of my head.
Him not commenting on Trudeau’s blackface IS a comment on it.
This seemed odd to me as well. Did Trudeau ask Obama to do this? Did he want Obama’s endorsement before Trump opened his mouth?
I actually already voted last Friday, I love advance voting. I was in and out in under 5 minutes, and now I just sit back and watch the results on Monday evening. As for Obama’s endorsement, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference for me either way (like I wouldn’t have suddenly wished that I hadn’t voted for party X or had waited to see who Obama liked) but I do find it a little strange that he said anything at all.
I meant to do that. But I got a nasty cold, and barely left my bed. Our polling station is actually just two doors down from my house, so it’s really not a big deal for me to just vote on election day, though it will be busier.
Obama endorsed Macron in the French election, too. He doles out his endorsements with great care.
Make your vote count and vote smart.
Don’t be like the U.S and end up with a trumo
It might help in eastern Canada but Manitoba and west are very anti Liberal due to the SNC Lavalin situation and how Trudeau has (or has not) supported pipelines. Western Canada is overall pro Scheer.
While I love Obama I think he doesn’t understand the intricacies and dynamics between Eastern and Western Canada and the role that pipelines and the oil sands play on current politics.
I’d say the Prairies are conservative, always will so it’s nothing new and has very little to do with SNC. Though BC isn’t that blue, many ridings go for the Greens and the NDP and the Libs still do well in urban ridings (kinda like in Ontario and Quebec). So it’s false to say Western Canada vote conservative when it’s really the middle/south part that does
May be true but the election is always decided by Ontario and Quebec. The other provinces are nothing but afterthoughts. Only in Ontario and Quebec do not choose a majority, then the other provinces count.
And I may get hate for saying that but that’s part of why the western provinces hate Ontario (and Quebec).
And Obama’s endorsement doesn’t help Trudeau. Canadians don’t like Americans (as a whole) and don’t like them interfering in our politics. I have seen a lot of hate online for those statements. I will say it is odd though that Scheer isn’t getting more hate considering he IS American.
Fair. I should have been more specific: I was referring to the prairies and not all of western Canada. In the prairies, many urban centres still vote conservative. I just did a quick check of Calgary and they were largely blue (except for 2 ridings) last election, as were Regina and Saskatoon.
Anecdotally, I live in the prairies and have heard many stories about people’s bitterness over SNC so I would say it is having some impact here. That being said, if people were already inclined not to like Trudeau then I think SNC just reinforces that.
@deezee, that’s becoming less and less true now that BC’s population is expanding (and Alberta’s, though I doubt it’ll continue if the oil production slows down as it should) and more ridings are created in the western provinces as a result. And I’m totally ok with that; Quebec has stopped being the kingmaker about a decade ago and I think it’s a good thing. One thing that upsets me though is election night: I’m in Quebec and I think it’s seriously messed up that results from the Atlantic and Qc and Ont are coming out while polls are still opened in Alberta and BC, that’s truly diminishing your votes and it shouldn’t happen.
@DotBee The Prairies hasn’t voted red since Trudeau’s dad was PM (Ralf Goodale is an exception and it’s the reason why he gets important government positions whenever the libs are in power) and his name is still loathed by many who’d never vote for his son (ironically, many Quebecers hates him too and both parties have good reasons for that, he was smart but he was an a-hole), so yeah, I think SNC is mostly a justification.
@arpeggi: Calgary had 2 red ridings in the last election. One of those was Kent Hehr who now has all those shady harassment allegations. He gives me he creeps. I hope he doesn’t get re-elected. But you’re right, overall very overwhelmingly blue.
Manitoba has several Liberal ridings and I would know, I’m in one of them. I advance voted on the weekend despite a massive blizzard (and waited in line for 20 minutes which is unusual). I despise Trudeau and my Liberal MP is a complete sock puppet but at least he’s my sock puppet in a likely Liberal minority government. #cynical
Trudeau is Liberal, not Labour Party. Obama’s endorsement comes a bit late as we had advanced polling over the Thanksgiving weekend. I didn’t want to vote for Trudeau but I really like my MP and she shouldn’t lose her position because her boss is a tool. It looks like we will have a minority government anyway so that’s positive.
If Trudeau is elected again we Canadian’s are domed. No way I am voting for him.
That’s pretty hyperbolic also, nah.
So Scheer is the better option? I’m voting based on who I dont want on power so I will be voting Liberal.
Amen to that @Jadedone!
@jadedone – yep – me too.
HAHAHA. Okay, Jan.
If Scheer gets elected, everyone is doomed. Because denying climate change and continuing to exploit tar sands as if it’s the only way Canada can make money will affect everyone. The libs aren’t great, but Scheer is evil. I’m not letting neo-nazi and Ezra Levant rule our nation
Let me correct that for you sweetie – If Scheer gets in we are fucking doomed.
It’s “doomed”, not “domed”. If Scheer is elected we are truly f*cked. He is an ardent climate change denier and the pollution from the tar sands projects will triple. He’s made it clear that he would kill the carbon tax, make significant cuts to social programs, increase tax deductions for business, support deregulation and privatization and promote a low minimum wage. And don’t even get me started on his anti-abortion stance which he is desperately trying to minimize or cover up.
Afraid I’m holding my nose and voting liberal.
To everyone who doesn’t live in Ontario. Please, please read about what Doug Ford is doing to our province. If you agree with any of these policies, then, clearly, you were never, ever going to vote Liberal. But, if you’re undecided, please consider the following carefully and cast your vote against Scheer.
– Doug Ford has created a corrupt, nepotistic swamp
– Doug Ford has dramatically cut spending on health care, education
– Doug Ford has cut funding for children and young adults with autism
– Doug Ford provided corporations with a 1% tax cut
– Doug Ford interfered with Toronto Council Elections by reducing the number of ridings
– Doug Ford created his own propaganda “news” channel
– Doug Ford ended all incentive programs, including a successful cap and trade program (the same one California has, I believe), that helped limited GHGs, and helped provide funds to companies to make their operations cleaner and more sustainable
– Doug Ford ended the Liberal’s rent control (anyone who knows anything about real estate in downtown Toronto knows we have a housing and rental crisis AND it is extremely unaffordable.)
– Doug Ford increased building height limits in Toronto, which would make downtown communities more condensed.
– Doug Ford decreased protections for at-risk species
And this list goes on and on. I don’t necessarily love Justin Trudeau but I will vote for him because voting Liberal, to me, is a vote to save Canada.
I agree with you @Jaded.
*Scheer.
Seriously? Doomed? How? I hate this kind of demonization in politics, and it’s coming from the Right and not from the Left.
Why is it that these sorts of anti-Trudeau comments are always from people with poor spelling, grammar and grasp on politics? Why do you think Canada will be doomed exactly? Can you please elaborate on which policies and decisions have affected you and yours? I’m so sick of thinly-veiled comments with no substance which are usually followed by a complaint about immigration, refugees and his choice of socks. It’s very “but her emails”-ish.
I’m a Canadian. I love Obama. I can understand why he endorsed Trudeau. The old way isn’t working we need to make real progress. Climate change, income divides & automation are huge issues that require progressive policy. We simple cannot afford a Conservative government. I don’t support either party. Trudeau is the lesser evil. Of the 2 main contenders.
Trudeau will get my vote bc Scheer is scary and I’m afraid of what that misogynist homophobic man will do if he gets in power.
He still can’t apologize for his homophobic comments about same sex marriage. That’s the power of his religious nut base, which is also funded by American right wing organizations. It wouldn’t have been hard for him to express true regret on that. Most Catholics in Canada even in 2005 weren’t against same sex marriage. He is to the right of people his age and his religion.
I’m in the only safe NDP riding in Qc so I was happy to vote for the party and MP I actually want to vote for. But I’m scared sh*tless about Monday and as a scientist, francophone, atheist woman living in a city where the conservatives will never get a seat, I can only pray for the libs to win a high minority. I remember how things were under Harper (trying to find a job while research grants were cut was not fun! And they were trying to make Mtl pay for never voting for them). Many of my students are voting in their home riding because their vote there might make a difference, and they’re pinching their nose and voting lib because Scheer is pretty much like Mike Pence and we can’t have that.
This man is one of the most dreamy, handsome, remarkably good looking people I’ve ever gazed eyes upon. I don’t know anything about his politics, just that a lot of people don’t like him, and the blackface(s). If he loses maybe he’ll come down to Cali and form a sexy liberal alliance with Gavin Newsom and all my lusty daydreams will come true.
Ann, please take him. Our manufacturing in Canada has suffered greatly and I know many small businesses that are closing their doors. I know many here don’t like the Conservatives but at least they are promoting business in Canada. He also doesn’t walk the talk on climate issues, women’s rights or native people. Canada hasn’t hit their climate targets EVER despite Trudeau’s previous promises. I would like to actually see a plan outlined to all Canadians about the actions that will be taken to mitigate climate change. I also think people should be a little more concerned about national security now that ISIS has been unleashed. That is by far the most immediate worldwide problem we are all facing.
I find it hilarious that you’re spending so much time focusing on the environmental issues while saying “well at least conservatives support business!”. So you’re complaining about Trudeau for not meeting targets… while boosting up the party that is least concerned about the environment.
Canada is a safe place to live, but the Conservatives under Scheer would loosen gun regulations.
Manufacturing is declining because of trade issues and because manufacturing jobs are declining, period, due to automation and a shift in production to other countries without labour and wage protections. This is a long-term trend.
The Conservatives will abandon any hope of dealing with the climate crisis. It would be tragic, for Canada and the world. Canada has so many educated people, so many skilled in science, engineering and resource development: We can do better.
All business will suffer under the climate crisis. Big and small. If your vision is so limited it comes down to “small business” (which is doing fine, by the way), then you are not a true Canadian in spirit. We care about each other and our world. We think about the larger community.
You know lots of manufacturing was hit due to Trump’s trade policies. The bipartisan delegation and Chrystia Freeland managed to navigate really well despite the circumstances.
The economics have shown a robust economy these last 4 years despite headwinds. Maybe you have seen a localized depression like in AB, but empirically the economy is stronger. Check out Bloomberg’s article today on how the economy is humming.
I really don’t understand this cut off your nose despite your face rational. Choose any party that actively attempts ANYTHING, or choose one that won’t do anything but “cut your taxes” (for the wealthy) and services along with it.
According to Elections Canada, it is not foreign interference unless payment is made.
Having said that, I don’t think a former or current head of state from any country should endorse anyone in a free and open democracy.
I’m still undecided. This isn’t going to sway my vote.
There’s a big difference between a current head of state and a former head of state. Barack Obama is a private citizen, just the same as George W Bush (who actively backed the installation of Kavanaugh on the US Supreme Court) or Jimmy Carter (who has spoken out since Day 1 after leaving the Oval Office). People just don’t think black people should talk.
I would imagine he did specifically because of the blackface controversy. He wants to let people know that he views Trudeau as a friend. I’ll tell you something else; we do not live in ordinary times and we cannot afford Canada falling to the fascists. So I get why Obama did this. I myself am on pins and needles on the outcome of this election. Please, please, do not let Canada fall!
Yes, I think it’s that. I bet he was pissed and disappointed when the blackface pictures came out, and that they may have had a private conversation. But he knows the value of stability and keeping even centrist policymakers in government, because the alternative would be catastrophic.
Canadians looking to vote, here is a cheat cheer in the party lines.
https://shawglobalnews.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/cheat-sheet-720.jpg
vote Conservative if you enjoy the rich getting richer off your work and hate women, POC and LGBT!
I wish our system wasn’t so broken, because NDP and Green never have a chance with the spectre of a conservative government looming.
NDP never really stand a chance, especially after the $h!t storm in Ontario. Plus I have seen the videos of straight to the face racism at Singh.
Ugh. I feel for Singh. He’s good, and I’d love to have more Sihk representation in our government but he’s facing so much.
I live in a very liberal green focused city. Sometimes we forget the rest of the provinces aren’t on the same page.
It hurts that anyone would vote for Scheer. Unless you are a multimillionaire protecting your vast wealth there is absolutely no reason. He’s just hateful.
On that note, does anyone know If there’s anything illegal about taking down political signs in public spaces? Or putting up companion ones?
ndp dont have a chance to win BUT if your riding is more likely ndp than liberal the best way to prevent a conservative govt is voting ndp:)
some ridings have been ndp for a while, I have no idea why when they never win but it’s how it is. there are 0 ndp signs in my area (part of montreal) but several greens. i hope that a vote split won’t take the seat from the current liberal mp and give it to the conservatives
Yes, it’s illegal to deface or remove election signs from public (or private) spaces. But you can always add. Just take them down Oct. 22nd.
I think Canadians in general like and respect Obama. Unfortunately for Trudeau, both he and Scheer, the two main parties are so divisive right now that I doubt Obama’s endorsement actually changed anyone’s mind. But I don’t think many people are going to be mad about foreign interference or anything.
Trudeau is lesser of two evils. Scheer came on Television today covering up Doug Ford’s non involvement in Federal politics by saying Mr. Ford is deliberately not involved because he is busy cleaning up Catherine Wynn’s mess( that’s BS). Everone knows Scheer is deliberately distancing himself from Ford because Ford is unpopular for all his cuts . Cuts in education, healthcare and autism program.
+1000
+ the other 1000
Ford now confronts a strike by teachers at 2 different levels. Health-care cuts are just starting to kick in and his cabinet is incoherent and ideological. No wonder they’re hiding him: He’s just another nasty rich kid with no feeling for the common good.
Voting liberal but hoping for a Liberal NDP minority government. The last time we had one the people of Canada benefited greatly.
#AnyoneButScheer
Agree, Eviesmom. The best we can hope for is a Liberal minority with an NDP coalition. I’m in Elizabeth May’s riding and have already voted (love advance polls too!). I think it’s vital that her voice is present in parliament even if hers is the only Green seat. I don’t know how I would vote otherwise.
Totally agree Eviesmom and buenavissta. A Lib minority with an NDP coalition would be the ticket.
And this is why we wanted to move to a proportional electoral system… That’s the one thing that I really resent Trudeau for, he should not have walked away from his promise to change the election process (mind you, Legault said he’d do it in Qc and has already pushed the task to after his current, and hopefully only, term)
Canadian here. I was surprised to hear Obama endorsed him, tbh. While Trudeau is not the worst choice, he will not be my choice at the poll on the 21st.
Anyone but Scheer! I can’t even imagine what will happen to our country if he gets in 🙁
then vote for whoever has a chance to defeat conservatives in your riding. in most ridings that’s liberals , some ndp, maybe just one is green (Victoria)
Here in Ontario, Doug Ford is quickly ruining the province. If we don’t vote liberal, I will be shocked! I applied for citizenship (I am an American) so sadly cannot vote in this election.
Andrea, I am also in Ontario and yes, I am seeing a lot of Ford backlash. My riding is usually a swing but does seem to be firmly Liberal this time around. I can barely survive Doug Ford’s Ontario, I can’t handle Andrew Scheer’s Canada.
Ontario here, “likely Liberal” riding, we all voted that way just to help be sure. Want ranked voting real bad. In my riding, the left could conceivably split the vote 3 ways and let a Conservative win, and that would be such a travesty, especially in a generally lower-case liberal minded, environmentally conscious riding.
A vote for the NDP is a vote for Scheer. I am voting Liberal, yes Trudeau made mistakes in his youth and also he hasn’t been perfect but he is better than Scheer.
No a vote for the NDP is a vote for the NDP. My riding is never a lib’s one, it used to belong to the Bloc before it turned NDP; I vote NDP because this party is closer to the things I stand for than the libs are. If I was in a riding where not voting libs meant it’d go to the conservatives (which is never going to happen in Montreal, we don’t vote blue and we have paid the price for that while Harper was in power), I’d vote lib, but since I don’t have to, I’ll happily cast my vote (and give $2 by doing so) to the party I actually want to vote for.
The NDP has a good chance to give the balance of power to the libs this time around, forcing Trudeau to govern more on the left and have more environment- and Indigenous-respectful policies. Voting for the NDP and/or the Green Party isn’t throwing your vote away, especially not this time
Depends on the riding but yes, I completely agree! I’m happy to be in the only NDP riding in Alberta and will be voting NDP on Monday!! Hoping for a Liberal minority government that needs the NDP to get anything done – that way Justin Trudeau can’t just run around doing whatever he wants for his rich buddies.
It depends on the riding. In mine, votes for the NDP or the Greens (popular here) could split the center-left and give the riding to the Conservatives. Would hate that, so voted Liberal. We really have to press for electoral reform and not quit!
I respectfully disagree – the NDP is strong in B.C. where I live and will sweep it. Trudeau needs to have a “rudder” to properly govern Canada and the NDP will be that rudder. ANYTHING but the Conservatives, Scheer is the worst thing that could happen here in Canada, we have long memories and remember the nightmare Harper created.
Barack husband, I think you should kind your business darling.
I liked Obama and honestly, this makes me lose a little respect for him that he would throw his weight behind someone with so little integrity. Justin Trudeau has been involved in very serious scandals supporting his rich buddies like a huge Liberal party donor, SNC Lavalin, like when he tried to strong arm our first ever indigenous female attorney general into breaking the law to get them off charges and he eventually fired her when she refused and he replaced her with an older white man. SNC Lavalin is being charged with corruption and bribery charges. An independent inquiry found Trudeau to be guilty of improperly applying pressure to the attorney general and he has yet to even apologize.
Not to mention that he just announced that he is taking indigenous children back to court to fight a ruling that Canadian government must pay reparations to indigenous children that were found to be unjustly taken from their families and given to white families. This is to score political points with racist voters.
Not true at all. The government does not make decisions during an election. The choice to continue the lawsuit is made by senior career officials in that department. Justin Trudeau did not make that choice. That is conservative misinformation. Jody Wilson Raibould made her own choice and said in open testimony that nothing was done illegally. It’s a deferred prosecution with rigid conditions not letting them off charges. Many other countries do this. The executives who were charged with crimes have mostly been let off because of excessive time of prosecution. Justin Trudeau is not perfect and has made mistakes but he has a platform and sticks to his policies rather than the character attacks from Mr. Scheer. Mr. Scheer has also lied about his experience and his dual citizenship while attacking the GG. for holding dual citizenship. The conservatives would regress our country.
Jodie Wilson-Reybould is no angel. Read before you take such a one-sided opinion:
http://www.rabble.ca/babble/canadian-politics/jody-wilson-raybould-doth-protest-too-much-rabble-blog
I just came to say I really miss Pres Obama being the President of the US.
As a Canadian I am voting for Justin Trudeau.. the alternatives will take us back decades in civil liberties.. I respect President Obama and understand why he does not want Canada to have Trumpian disasters
I always find it hilarious when conservatives bring up SNC Lavlin.
As if the Conservatives haven’t been bought and sold by the oil companies.
Seriously…
…and wouldn’t have done the same..
I kinda love the Canadian debate this post has fostered.
I kinda love the Canadian debate this post has fostered. Respect to all, we can still disagree.
Also, Obama is allowed to have his opinion. We all are. But his opinion is just that. Maybe he’s trying to help us head off our own version of 45 (of which I am well behind). Its still up to us.
Vote for the platform u can get behind and choose what’s best for Canada, and the rest of the globe.
PLEASE VOTE!
I had mixed feelings about the endorsement and I say that as someone who was always going to vote for Trudeau. I don’t think we need a former US president telling us how to vote, but at the same time to me this election was a no brainer. Teh NDP do not have the numbers in my riding and Scheer as Prime Minister is the thing of nightmares.
Is Trudeau perfect? Nope. Does he have faults and flaws? Yes. But overall I have been happy these past four years and I would vote for him again even if I wasn’t terrified of Andrew Scheer.
I have no idea what impact, if any, an Obama endorsement will have. We’re just living in strange times. I’m still surprised the black/brownface scandal played out the way it did. Had a conservative politician (edit: or ANYONE FROM ANY OTHER PARTY) in Canada been outed for black/brownface, Justin would have been first in line calling for their resignation and his sycophants would be right behind him. At the end of the day, he is not a smart person. He doesn’t even have a good heart – he’s just a good actor. People with good hearts don’t wear blackface ever, let alone multiple times. See also: firing Jody Wilson-Reybould for literally doing her job.
What also upsets me is that Justin’s father, Pierre, was responsible for bringing us the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. That his son turned out to be such a problematic, questionably racist dummy is… troubling, to say the least. He must be turning in his grave.
Personally, I believe it was a misstep for the Liberals to keep Trudeau as leader rather than force his resignation, but hey, I guess we’ll find out for sure on election day. After those photos re-surfaced, I know I don’t want him representing our country on the world stage anymore, that’s for sure. The Liberal party needs to get it’s s**t together.
Co-sign!
Co-sign, co-sign. What we really need is a Liberal government with a leader other than Trudeau.
Anyone else remember a dying Gord Downie publicly place all his Reconciliation hopes on Trudeau, only to see it completely betrayed by Trudeau’s actions? Awful.
While Canada has more than two parties, it often feels like a two party system: Liberal or Conservative. When the Liberals have a scandal (and they are tame compared to what happens in the US) the Conservatives get in and undo any progress. I hate the first past the post system and wish we would move to proportional representation so progressives who don’t want to vote Liberal can follow their conscious and go NDP or Green.
Ugh Trudeau – NO! I don’t need celebrities or foreign former heads of state telling me who to endorse.
I voted to n the early polls and chose to re-elect my Liberal MP.
Sheer is not right for Canada. He’s a Harper clone and has American citizenship, which can only mean his loyalties are divided at best. He will likely kiss Trump’s but as he has no real spine or strong policies of his own. We need a stronger stance against American politics in Canada and I like how the liberals managed Trumps BS during the new NAFTA negotiations. I also think the Cons are behind the blackface pics and timing, which are just dirty politics. Trudeau took ownership and apologized, which i can respect, even though blackface is disgusting.
NDP and Green will only split the vote and cause a usel as minority government. I also work for the government and know how much money and time is wasted when a new party comes into power, so I want status quo.
Will be interesting and I’m glad Obama endorsed Trudeau and I think it’s a positive thing for his campaign.
Also, to the people dissing him for being a former teacher, you suck. Teachers are so crucial for our kids and dissing a leader for having been one is just sickening.
Yeah, I don’t get why being a teacher would somehow make you a bad politician. We need more social workers, nurses, teachers, bartenders (Ruth Ellen Brosseau kicks a**!), farmers in politic and less lawyers, businessmen and economists; we’ve tried those, at every election! and they don’t work. A government can’t be run like a business and we need input from all the layers of society, all genders, ethnicities and background.
Beware the Russian bots who troll Facebook and comment sections. They are active in our Canadian election and we are screwed if the uninformed listen to their sheer-shit.
For all that is holy Canada, please please don’t pull an Alberta and take us back to the dark ages. This Edmontonian needs some hope. My heart is orange but i’ll Vote red.
Oh here we go with the Russian bots… It couldn’t possibly be that other Canadian human beings ARE informed and just have different opinions than you.
It’s factual, most hashtags associated with anti Trudeau hashtags are also associated with MAGA ones which are of course tied to discourse from Putin to sow chaos into democratic western societies. Facebook is also not removing and straight up trafficking in ads that are straight lies (like some 50% home tax, legalization of hard drugs targeting Chinese speakers)
He’s already 2/2, why not 3/3 with his next door neighbours with huge amounts of oil too?
It’s fair to have a difference of opinion and a strong debate, but this social media influence is institutionalized disinformation.
I’m from YEG too!
I’m not Canadian so my opinion doesn’t matter. All I have to say about this is that I think Jagmeet Singh is possibly the most handsome politician in the world.
Agreed. He’s super hot.
Sorry, Barry. My vote is going to NDP. I can’t vote for a party run by a man who repeatedly thought that doing black/brown face was okay.
Anyone but Scheer. Ugh.
My riding is an NDP stronghold usually. I am wary of vote splitting so if it is still polling as NDP on Monday I will vote NDP to avoid the Conservative getting in.
If Obama’s goal was to endorse an environmentally focused party, why didn’t he endorse the GREENS and Elizabeth May? That’s why I call BS on Obama’s endorsement. Would LOVE it if he commented on Trudeau’s blackface though – funny how that was left out.
Two great leaders! Choose Forward!
Ok, fine. Maybe the people in Trudeau’s riding will have an opinion on that. For the rest of us, it makes no difference since we don’t actually get the chance to vote for or against him. We don’t vote for Prime Ministers here. We only vote for our Member of Parliament. So yeah, this is weird and pointless.
Doug Ford won because of immigration. When Prime Minister Trudeau wins with a minority government he has to strengthened the Third country policy to stop fake refugee claims.
It will be a tight election. The Tories have moved closer to the Republicans and have become redundant for proper governance and fair democratic policies so Trudeau will persevere even if he is badly bruised by the dirty politics.
I hope pragmatism and critical thinking will win for our constitutional monarchy sake.
I think we should consider the fact that Canada wedged between US & the UK needs a sensible moderate government. The racist/fascist wave that Canada will see if the conservatives get in will destroy the country for the next 50 years. Obama usually NEVER says anything….that should make you think very very hard about why he opened his mouth. It’s not to tell you what to do, it’s to warn you.