For the 5th time in the last 7 Canadian federal elections, Canadians voted for a minority government. Justin Trudeau and the Liberals go back to Parliament in Ottawa with a strong minority government, similar in seat total to what happened before the election started.
The Liberals (Paul Martin) in 2004. The Conservatives (Stephen Harper) in 2006 and 2008. The Liberals (Justin Trudeau) in 2019 and 2021.
The Conservatives did better in Atlantic Canada. The NDP did better in Quebec. The Conservatives did worse in Ontario and Alberta. The Greens stayed the same in Atlantic Canada, better in Ontario and maybe worse in British Columbia.
Justin Trudeau wanted a majority government but didn't really ask for one. If the prime minister had asked me before the election, "should we do this?" my answer would have been "no."
Many asked whether this was a wasted election. No election is wasted. We know where Canada stands. We also saw how long Canadians stand, based on hours-long lines to vote, especially in Toronto and Vancouver. The footage almost looked like it came from the United States.
The power of the minority government is that more can get done if the political parties cooperate.
Our 2021 Canadian election coverage comprehensive guide
Canada election 2021: The pressure of the final week of the campaign
The mail-in ballots will be counted starting today so the actual counts can change.
- Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre) won a federal seat for the Green Party for the first time in Ontario. Morrice finished second in 2019 but took advantage of the fact that the incumbent Raj Saini (Liberal) dropped out of the race.
- Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) was the MP in Berthier-Maskinongé (Quebec) from 2011-2019. Brosseau was winning over the incumbent MP Yves Perron (Bloc Quebecois). Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) was re-elected in Quebec.
- Paul Manly (Green) was elected to represent the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding (British Columbia). Manly looks like he will finish second to the Conservatives.
- Annamie Paul (Green) finished 4th in the Toronto Centre riding. Difficult to represent a party when you are not a MP. Paul is the only federal party leader in trouble over whether that person remains the leader.
Who cares what the disgruntled vindictive book seller says? I boycotted CTV tonight because you had her on. pic.twitter.com/YL3QrgNJBz
— Sandra Smith (@smittycanada1) September 21, 2021
- The Liberals had a 2-vote lead over the NDP in the Vancouver-Granville riding. Jody Wilson-Raybould retired from Parliament. My Twitter feed was unhappy with CTV for employing her on Election Night. Ian Hanomansing (CBC News) admitted he lives in the Vancouver-Granville riding and mailed in his ballot.
- Thomas Daigle (CBC News) was outside a hotel in the Spadina-Fort York riding in Toronto, reporting on people waiting multiple hours to vote. The lines in Toronto and Vancouver in particular looked like Wisconsin and Georgia in 2020.
- The Peterborough-Kawartha riding (Ontario) had been a bellwether riding, but elected a Conservative last night.
- Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Quebecers should vote Conservative. Not sure they helped or hurt the party.
- Elizabeth May pointed out on CBC News that the Greens had a full slate in every federal election from 2004-2019 but didn't have a full slate in 2021.
- David Cochrane (CBC News), to show a contrast where some elections are decided before British Columbia polls close, said in this election, "British Columbia is not the empty net goal of this election."
- The Liberals will have at least a seat in Alberta but not in Saskatchewan. The media pounced on Trudeau in 2019 for having zero seats in those provinces. We'll see how hostile they are if Saskatchewan is the only province.
Canada election 2021: The most relaxing way to watch the results https://t.co/L0EmUcqZdU
— Maclean's Magazine (@macleans) September 21, 2021
David Common (CBC News) reported from Elections Canada in Ottawa. This led to this tweet.
I need to know more about the election bats. A LOT more about the election bats.
— Shannon Proudfoot (@sproudfoot) September 21, 2021
2021 Canada election preview
2021 Canadian politics preview
Canadian politics coverage on CanadianCrossing.com
While a pandemic election is rather difficult, we leave you with the BBC story, "Canada election: Why it's easier to vote in Canada than the US."
photo credits: CBC News; Maclean's
Twitter captures: @smittycanada1; @macleans; @sproudfoot
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