This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34578213
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| Canada election: Liberals sweep to power | Canada election: Liberals sweep to power |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Canada's Liberal Party has decisively won a general election, ending nearly a decade of Conservative rule. | Canada's Liberal Party has decisively won a general election, ending nearly a decade of Conservative rule. |
| The centrist Liberals, led by Justin Trudeau, started the campaign in third place but in a stunning turnaround now command a majority. | The centrist Liberals, led by Justin Trudeau, started the campaign in third place but in a stunning turnaround now command a majority. |
| Mr Trudeau, the 43-year-old son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, said Canadians had voted for real change. | Mr Trudeau, the 43-year-old son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, said Canadians had voted for real change. |
| Incumbent Conservative PM Stephen Harper - in power since 2006 - has congratulated his rival. | Incumbent Conservative PM Stephen Harper - in power since 2006 - has congratulated his rival. |
| Justin Trudeau is son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, considered the father of modern Canada. | Justin Trudeau is son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, considered the father of modern Canada. |
| Meet Justin Trudeau | Meet Justin Trudeau |
| Young Canadians' hopes | Young Canadians' hopes |
| Seven key Trudeau policies | Seven key Trudeau policies |
| Trudeau's to-do list | Trudeau's to-do list |
| Addressing jubilant supporters, Mr Trudeau said Canadians had "sent a clear message tonight: It's time for a change". | Addressing jubilant supporters, Mr Trudeau said Canadians had "sent a clear message tonight: It's time for a change". |
| "We beat fear with hope, we beat cynicism with hard work. Most of all we defeated the idea that Canadians should be satisfied with less. | "We beat fear with hope, we beat cynicism with hard work. Most of all we defeated the idea that Canadians should be satisfied with less. |
| "This is what positive politics can do," he said, also praising Mr Harper for his service to the country. | "This is what positive politics can do," he said, also praising Mr Harper for his service to the country. |
| During the 11-week election campaign, the Liberal Party said it would: | During the 11-week election campaign, the Liberal Party said it would: |
| Why Harper lost: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Montreal | |
| It was a sweeping victory that seemed unthinkable five years ago, improbable just months ago and unlikely even a few days ago. | It was a sweeping victory that seemed unthinkable five years ago, improbable just months ago and unlikely even a few days ago. |
| When Mr Harper first announced that this year's general election campaign would be a record 78 days long, conventional wisdom was it would benefit the Conservatives, giving them more time to bring their financial advantages to bear. | When Mr Harper first announced that this year's general election campaign would be a record 78 days long, conventional wisdom was it would benefit the Conservatives, giving them more time to bring their financial advantages to bear. |
| In hindsight, however, the lengthy campaign gave Mr Trudeau an opportunity to introduce himself to Canadians and overcome Conservative attacks that characterised the 43-year-old former high-school drama teacher as too inexperienced to lead the Canadian nation. | In hindsight, however, the lengthy campaign gave Mr Trudeau an opportunity to introduce himself to Canadians and overcome Conservative attacks that characterised the 43-year-old former high-school drama teacher as too inexperienced to lead the Canadian nation. |
| Mr Trudeau also successfully outmanoeuvred the New Democratic Party, campaigning to that party's left on economic issues. | Mr Trudeau also successfully outmanoeuvred the New Democratic Party, campaigning to that party's left on economic issues. |
| For Mr Trudeau, the hard work of bringing the Liberal Party back from the ashes is over. Now, as the next prime minister of Canada, the even harder work of governing is about to begin. | For Mr Trudeau, the hard work of bringing the Liberal Party back from the ashes is over. Now, as the next prime minister of Canada, the even harder work of governing is about to begin. |
| Trudeau brings Liberals back on top | Trudeau brings Liberals back on top |
| From austerity to deficit | |
| The economy loomed large during the campaign. Mr Harper highlighted his legacy of balanced budget and tax cuts, while Mr Trudeau pointed to sluggish growth to support his calls to boost demand through public spending. | |
| Mr Trudeau's infrastructure policy is projected to cost C$10bn in the first two years, equivalent to 0.5% of Canada's GDP - tipping the federal budget into deficit. But, BBC business reporter Rob Plummer says, if the money is spent on the wrong kind of infrastructure, it may not do any good while saddling the government with unnecessary debt. | |
| Whatever happens, richer Canadians can expect to face a higher tax bill, handing over more than half their income in combined federal and provincial taxes, while ordinary folks can look forward to tax breaks. | |
| And in the short term, Mr Trudeau's policies may help stabilise the economy, making it unlikely that the Bank of Canada will cut interest rates further - meaning borrowing costs should remain low and house prices relatively high. | |
| What now for Harper? | What now for Harper? |
| Mr Harper, one of the longest-serving Western leaders, had been seeking a rare fourth term. | Mr Harper, one of the longest-serving Western leaders, had been seeking a rare fourth term. |
| Speaking after the polls closed, he said he had congratulated Mr Trudeau, and that the Conservatives would accept the results "without hesitation". | Speaking after the polls closed, he said he had congratulated Mr Trudeau, and that the Conservatives would accept the results "without hesitation". |
| Mr Harper will stand down as Conservative leader but remain as an MP, his party says. | Mr Harper will stand down as Conservative leader but remain as an MP, his party says. |
| There is no fixed transition period under Canada's constitution. Mr Trudeau is expected to be sworn in in a few weeks' times. | There is no fixed transition period under Canada's constitution. Mr Trudeau is expected to be sworn in in a few weeks' times. |
| Tom Mulcair of the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) said he had "congratulated Mr Trudeau on his exceptional achievement". | Tom Mulcair of the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) said he had "congratulated Mr Trudeau on his exceptional achievement". |
| The NDP is on course to win 44 seats, less than half the number they held in the outgoing parliament. | The NDP is on course to win 44 seats, less than half the number they held in the outgoing parliament. |