2018 will have plenty of drama in the major Canadian provinces but the federal focus is on 2019. The Conservatives and New Democratic Party have new federal leaders in Andrew Scheer and Jagmeet Singh, respectively, to compete against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Bloc Quebecois also picked a new leader: Martine Ouellet, the only candidate who fulfilled the nomination requirements.
Andrew Scheer is the new Conservative Party leader
Jagmeet Singh wins NDP leadership race on first ballot
The primary federal debate of note in 2018 is whether the Trudeau government will get marijuana legalised by Canada Day 2018. The provinces are more encouraged by a 75% take of taxes plus anything over $100 million. The municipalities still want their share, too. Some in the unelected Canadian Senate are trying to trip up the deadline.
Canada goal: Legal marijuana by Canada Day 2018
The loudest voices will come from Quebec and Ontario. New Brunswick could have a tighter race than the other 2 provinces but that battle may not have too many fireworks on the national stage.
Bill 62 is very troubling but does offer insight into what Quebec thinks
Philippe Couillard (Quebec) and Kathleen Wynne (Ontario) have non-Liberal targets on their backs. The Liberals have been in charge in Canada's largest province since 2003, mostly under Dalton McGuinty, who served as premier until 2013.
Wynne has been in charge since then. As we noted last year in the British Columbia election, Christy Clark was technically the first female premier to be re-elected. Wynne would like to be the first female premier to be re-elected and remain premier.
The push for Bill 62 can be linked to Couillard and the Liberals in Quebec trying to cater to the premier québec (Quebec First) type crowd just before the election.
Here are the tentative election dates for the provinces in 2018:
- Ontario — June 7
- New Brunswick — September 24
- Quebec — October 1
The Liberals are also in charge in New Brunswick under Brian Gallant, the youngest premier in Canada. Gallant, like Couillard, is in his first term as premier.
2017 Canadian politics preview
2016 Canadian politics preview
2015 Canadian politics preview
Canadian politics coverage on CanadianCrossing.com
The Liberals hung on barely in Nova Scotia in 2017. The Liberals in British Columbia did win more seats but the NDP forged a deal with the Green Party to run the western-most province. People stayed up really late even on the West Coast to find out that things weren't completely settled by bedtime on election night.
Liberals win very slim majority in Nova Scotia
British Columbia transitions power from Liberals to NDP with Greens help
BC elects Liberal minority government for the moment
Brad Wall is stepping down as Saskatchewan premier following a special January 27 election within the Saskatchewan Party. Wall has served for more than a decade as the provincial premier. The new premier will have time to build momentum since the next election in that province won't come until 2020.
Here is the list of the provinces and the year of their last provincial election.
Nova Scotia — 2017
British Columbia — 2017
Manitoba — 2016
Saskatchewan — 2016
Newfoundland and Labrador — 2015
Alberta — 2015
Prince Edward Island — 2015
Quebec — 2014
Ontario — 2014
New Brunswick — 2014
Canada got a new governor general and chief justice of the Supreme Court. The country developed some goodwill by not charging admission to Canada national parks in 2017. Hopefully, you took advantage of the deal.
Here are some of our top Canadian political stories of 2017.
All Canada national parks are free in 2017
Omar Khadr case shows why Canada, U.S. should not allow torture
Julie Payette will be the new Governor General of Canada
Should Canada have a federal school lunch program?
Beverley McLachlin to retire as Canada Supreme Court chief justice
Our fingers would have been less sore if Donald Trump hadn't gained the power that he did in late 2016. Miserable doesn't begin to describe what he has done with the U.S. relationship with Canada. NAFTA negotiations might have been useless based on what should be idle threats to the trade agreement. The new ambassador to Canada has truly proven useless once she finally got nominated and the length of time before actually starting the job.
CanadianCrossing.com Donald Trump coverage
John Kelly was the first Trump person to make a trip to Canada and he embarrassed himself and his country by his behaviour. Thanks goodness Betsy DeVos wasn't the second Trump person to make a visit.
A president of the United States did visit Canada in 2017 but that was former President Barack Obama, who had a great time in Montréal.
How Canada will deal with Donald Trump
Justin Trudeau goes high as Donald Trump goes low
Canadians can watch Super Bowl LI ads but not without U.S. pressure
Donald Trump has double standard for Quebec City mosque shooting
Justin Trudeau wins round 1 over Donald Trump
Trump cabinet member finally sets foot in Canada but not a good impression
Donald Trump dairy rant may be more about softwood lumber
No surprise: Donald Trump blows off Canada for first foreign trip
Day 1 for Kelly and Ryan in Niagara Falls: Justin Trudeau and Tatiana Maslany
Barack Obama takes in Montreal
Kelly Knight Craft nominated to be U.S. Ambassador to Canada
Summer of NAFTA negotiations preview
NAFTA talks head to Canada in Ottawa
Betsy DeVos canceled Canada trip shows her views were not wanted
The refugee crisis was another troubling point, not to mention racist and/or ignorant behaviour by border guards early in the year. Here are some lowlights of that behaviour.
Canada takes in flood of refugee applicants from United States
Canadians visiting U.S. do not need an immigrant visa
Olympic Stadium helps out another run of people to Canada
Canada is down to 2 female provincial premiers with Christy Clark (British Columbia) technically winning the 2017 election but not able to form government. Rachel Notley (Alberta) will have a job at least to 2019 but Kathleen Wynne (Ontario) is up for re-election this year. Canada had 5 women in charge at the start of 2014.
Andrea Horwath has been the NDP leader in Ontario since 2009. Jennifer McKenzie is the leader of the New Brunswick NDP, however the party has 0 current seats in New Brunswick.
Tina Beaudry-Mellor and Alanna Koch are 2 of the 5 candidates from the Saskatchewan Party to replace Brad Wall as premier in a special January 27 election.
photo credit: Canadian Press
Comments