Canada’s new prime minister, Justin Trudeau, is really cute! [Buzzfeed]
Oprah invests in Weight Watchers, makes $70 million in one day. [I’m Not Obsessed]
Shirtless Matt Bomer is the best Matt Bomer. [A Socialite Life]
Why would anyone care enough to mock Brody Jenner? [OMG Blog]
More about Lamar Odom’s discharge from the Vegas hospital. [Reality Tea]
Kim Zolciak slept with a married police officer when she was 17. [Starcasm]
Are Madonna & Sean Penn hitting it again? [Dlisted]
Fargo recap: I really, really like this season (but Season 1 was better). [LaineyGossip]
Who left Dancing with the Stars last night? [CDAN]
Liam Hemsworth thinks he’s really famous. [ICYDK]
Are black tights really that controversial? [The Frisky]
Channing Tatum as Winnie the Pooh = sketchy. [Seriously OMG WTF]
Congrats Canucks!🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Littlestar was excited! She kept telling me about how she hoped the other one–Harper? IDK, I call him the Douche–wouldn’t win……..so I’m glad for her and Canada.
And lol, that’s what I said. Trudeau is hot.
Yep, I’m very happy! And hopeful for Canada’s future :).
Justin ran a very positive campaign, and his speech last night after he was announced as the new PM just exemplified how positive and uniting he is. I really really hope he can live up to Canada’s expectations. And maybe put an end finally to the east versus the west attitude in Canada.
I’m also proud of the Canadians who didn’t believe/give in to Harper’s racist election tactics.
He is a fabulous orator, which is a stark contrast to Harper’s dry toast speeches.
@littlestar
I was wondering where you were! I feel like Matt Damon, I’ve been name dropping you for two days! Haha.
I have an NDP government provincially in Alberta, and now Justin federally. I’m fine with the Liberals, but not sure about him personally. Hopefully he doesn’t govern the way his Daddy did. My province is already starting to become a have not province.
Harper was slaughtered and it was glorious. Even news panelists couldn’t contain their glee over the drubbing.
He has a great voice ‘
https://amp.twimg.com/v/5f217e5a-3dbd-4491-9163-2d2381f3f644
Yes he’s Hot. 🙂
Oh my goodness Jezza,
Alberta has been the richest province for years now, but when oil dropped you guys all realized you squandered it all and now you are feeling hurt that you feel like a “have-not” province!? Meanwhile here in Manitoba we were all envying your good fortune! No disrespect. http://www.macleans.ca/economy/the-case-for-blowing-all-our-oil-riches/
Alberta is still the only province without sales tax because of the oil money. The rest of us pay 13% or higher depending on the HST being combined or not. If things are going wrong I would say that keeping the conservatives in provincially for 40 years straight was the issue.
Jezza, same here. Let the trust baby show us now. Good news is I have a plan B but many others don’t. Let’s see how he’ll do but I have my reservations about him.
@Jen, oil-indoctrinated Albertans are the worst, and as an Albertan I feel I can say that. My cousin, an oilfield worker, basically thought the NDP provincial win was the end of days (“My family’s going to be living under a bridge!”), but you know what? They’re doing just fine. I haven’t been on FB to see his reaction to this Liberal win, but I’m sure it’s more of the same fear-mongering I’ve, sadly, become accustomed to.
It’s tough being orange in blue country!
@Jezza welcome to the club. I’m from BC, we’ve been have-not for years because of our provincial government’s policies. Although they call themselves Liberals, they are nothing more than a bunch of neo-conservative crooks that stole the party and took over the name. They cut taxes to please their corporate donors then to compensate they raised fees on health care, licenses, ICBC, ferries, slashed spending on anything they possibly could that impacts the people not the companies. They’ve GIVEN our crown resources such as forests away to cronies for nothing in return for the province. They’ve had their heads so far up Harper’s butt that the premier didn’t even congratulate Trudeau on his win.
You do realize that the NDP had nothing to do with your state of being right now they haven’t been in power long enough to make any kind of change yet. Your problem is decades of conservative mismanagement and in spite of conservative bs, the NDP are actually pretty good at managing money. In spite of the lies, they left BC with a surplus and the “liberals” squandered it in no time.
I’m cautiously optimistic about Justin. There is no way he could ever be worse than creepy closet hiding Harper and he has the potential to be great. In the meantime I will be shallow and enjoy looking at him and his lovely family.
@ test @jezza and @petrichor
Thanks for the balanced convo about Alberta. I’m an Albertan. I voted NDP in a riding that didn’t go NDP, but am a conservative (I think a reluctant one, if that makes sense). I wish that communities supported each other enough that we didn’t need government to do it.
Government should be taking care of infrastructure, and essential services, but thats not our reality. 40 years in power makes a government lose sight of that and govern poorly. And the young oilfield guys haven’t been through a down cycle, so they spent. The oil industry is so cyclical. I don’t feel badly for them. But I do feel badly for the companies that relied on the oil industry and the families that service them. Not everyone in Alberta made a ton of money off oil – many make a good decent wage that kept a mom at home if they wanted to, and lived comfortably. Many people came to Alberta for that opportunity, and that will likely be gone for them. Going back east to poor economies is hard too. My dad was has been in oil for 40 years, so we always knew to be cautious with the gains.
Love the political discussions! Especially Canadian. There’s a lot less drama than the states, but it is all interesting. Thanks for the post CB!
He reminds me of a younger, brunette Matthew McConaughey. But seriously…
Of all the knockdown drag out HOT azz pics of Trudeau…and those made the cut?? Say what? Check THESE out, lol:
https://nationalpostcomment.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/0930-justin2.jpg?w=500&h=375
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3a/e4/db/3ae4dbfdd735de779f81eb674f852d58.jpg
I hope now some people jump on the he is hot bandwagon. 🙂 Everyone has different tastes, but most people I know up here think he is HOT.
I see it, too. It’s not just the pain pills, yay! 🙌
Congrats Canada! Let’s keep that momentum in the states!! Bernie Sanders 2016!!
But is that top photo at a gay pride parade? Would love to see a US president carrying a rainbow flag one day. Makes him more attractive in that photo because he seems so open-minded.
Holy crap.
Thanks Caro!
Caro
OMG! Thank You for posting these Links!
I’m looking at the campiagn and photos from this page wonder what the bfd is. He looked cute in an adorable sense At Best! All Snuggly.
But wow!
You lucky ducks…
Damn!
aims .
Bernie has no chance , he will never win the Presidency.
Hillary is the strongest Dem candidate. IMO
the GOP has never beat a Clinton that’s one reason they don’t want to run against Hillary.
Congratulations Trudeau
When his father Pierre became PM it was called Trudeau mania. Women running after him in a car.
http://www.cbc.ca/archives/topic/trudeaumania-a-swinger-for-prime-minister
Thanks coco, I bookmarked that. I used to have a poster of Pierre with his red rose in his lapel.
So so so happy he won! Time for change!!
He is a very nice man and @ birdix that photo was at the gay pride parade in Toronto. He was actually marching in the parade! I wish I could upload the great photos i had taken with him at a event. He is good looking and passionate about what he believes in
I can see my office building in that pride photo haha! 🙂
Jays win and the Conservatives lose. It’s a great day for Canada!
He certainly does not look hot in the gay pride pic. If he was bald and spray painted white he would look exactly like the lead alien creature in the movie Prometheus.
http://moviepilot.com/posts/2014/06/18/prometheus-2-explained-easter-eggs-and-unanswered-questions-1521977?lt_source=external,manual
So, very, very thankful that Trudeau won, but more importantly Harper did not get re-elected. I can’t imagine what Canada would like like with another 4 years of Harper. His speech last night was amazing! Can’t wait to see what he can do.
We are thrilled, thank you!! (Well most of us anyway…) I am guessing the Conservatives are crying in their beers today.
I was surprised at how many conservatives won seats- way more than I was expecting.
Alberta will always vote blue no matter what, don’t let the provincial NDP fool you, that’s 30 seats already, add most of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and rural BC and you have around 50 seats that are given to the conservatives for sure. Votes can be divided on the center and left side between the Libs and the NDP but no one will hesitate between going orange or blue (except in Quebec, around Quebec city, there it’s unpredictable). So all this considered, the number of seats the conservatives won is not that surprising
Thanks heaps! What a change it’s going to be … we hope.
LOOK AT ALL THE CRAZY CANADIAN COMMENTS! 🎉
LOL – we get that way sometimes. I know John Oliver made fun of us for thinking 78 days was way too damn long for an election, but good lord it WAS. I have no idea how Americans put up with year-long campaigns. Thats’s insanity to me.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long for the election. I miss the five week rule. I heard that it might be re-instated as the change was another one of Harper’s idiotic actions. Let’s hope it happens.
NOT HOT. Not even dorky-hot. This quiz pretty much covers it.
“Who said it? Trudeau vs Zoolander”
https://www.qzzr.com/c/quiz/103221/90e0ba41-2c4a-4cc2-b7b6-ff5363593693
I lived in Alberta in the ’80’s and remember seeing the bumper sticker: “Next time there’s a boom, I promise I won’t blow it all”.
And he is a Christmas baby! (born December 25, 1971.) I’m so excited….I remember when his father Pierre was Prime Minister….and his mother Margaret…oh my….she was my spirit animal before I even knew what a spirit animal was.
I remember when his dad, Pierre, dated Kim Cattrall! I’m not Canadian though, just a gossip hound
He also dated Barbara Streisand.
And his mum slept with Jack Nicholson and Ron Wood from the Stones
he also dated Barbra Streisand.
Wow, I feel like I need to read up more on his parents!
And Margot Kidder
The visit was part of a peace mission Lennon was on which concluded with meeting Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in Ottawa. Trudeau reflected on the encounter which stretched to a 50-minute conversation from an originally slated 10-minute chat in his 1993 book “Memoirs.”
“I was pleased to receive [Lennon and Ono],” Trudeau wrote, stating Lennon was kind to say “‘If all politicians were like Mr. Trudeau, there would be world peace.'”
This was from an interview in 1969 I found online. I think it might have been just after John and Yoko’s Bed In in Montreal, Canada.
Margaret Trudeau used to babysit my best friend. Waaay back in the day. Super nice woman.
Margaret wrote a memoir “Past Imperfect” in the seventies, all about her life up to that point….her childhood, meeting and marrying Pierre, having kids, being First Lady of Canada, her marriage ending. It is long out of print so if you somehow find it it is worth reading.
Another bit of trivia…Justin’s younger brother Sacha was also born on Christmas Day two years later in 1973. Sadly there was another brother, Michel, who died in an avalanche in 1998 at age 23.
You should read her book “Changing My Mind”. It’s about her lifelong battle with bipolar disorder and the havoc it wreaked until it was diagnosed. So many people just think she’s a flake and a party girl but she went through hell.
I was fortunate to hear Maggie Trudeau speak about her life dealing with mental illness. She was so brave and strong, it was very moving. She stayed and spoke one on one with almost everyone in the audience of hundreds.
Justin seems to have inherited his mother’s compassion and ability to connect with people. Our country will be all the better because of it.
My older brother was born the same year, and my mother wrote Margaret Trudeau a letter and sent her a little baby gift. She received a thank you letter back, signed by Margaret and Pierre Trudeau!
She thought it was pretty darn cool that she was in a position now, to vote for him!
December 1971…. a great month and year if I do say so myself. I cannot believe someone my exact age is a PM of Canada. I am getting OLD. Love to all the Canadians, I hope he does a good job. I spent 6 months as an exchange student in Vancouver at 16 and it was like every 1980’s teen movie I had ever seen….such an amazing time for this Aussie kid. My only question re: J Trudeau is does everyone feel comfy with a dynasty? They always make me a little uncomfortable, as in without connections would he have made it this far on his own?
No,not everyone. And I have very big reservations towards the young one based on the doings or lack of such of the old one. Trudeau is a trust baby who knows little to nothing about how people live.
Thank goodness Harper is out! Trudeau is very sexy! 🙂
Although I agree that our new Prime Minister is a handsome man, I fear for the security of our nation, now that the Liberal party is in charge. Increased taxes, increased immigration from the Middle East, and a softer stance on crime and terrorism will not be good for Canada but are exactly what Trudeau’s government promises. Canada is struggling, economically, and this new government will only cause further strain on her people.
But, yes, Justin Trudeau is lovely to look at.
I take it you voted for the Conservatives ; )
I think he’ll do the right thing! I think his plans are EXACTLY what Canada (the world for that matter) needs – less hate, less greed, more transparency, inclusion and understanding. I certainly won’t benefit from his plans for taxation and new structure to social programs (ex. “baby bonus”) but I think he’s absolutely correct in raising taxes of the rich/corporations and using that tax money where it’s needed! It seems he’s looking at the long term economically (maybe we do have to run a slight deficit to build the country and secure jobs for the future – cutting back and European-style austerity measures certainly haven’t been working) and I like that he’s not a fear monger……immigrants, regardless where they come from, are VITAL to Canada and it’s growth.
And, yes, it helps he’s easy on the eyes and charismatic – two things you CANNOT say about Harper or Mulcair….LOL!
Oh c’mon! Increased taxation for the richests is not increased taxes. And giving asylum to refugees in the midst of the greatest immigration crisis since WWII is simply the right thing to do. The only “terrorists” attacks we’ve had were during Harper’s reign so I don’t know how good he is about security, even more so since it’s been shown that one of the reasons those attacks happen were because the anti-terrorist group at the RCMP was a complete mess, with everyone hating each other, and the government knew that. He tried to destroy the CBC, our best source of information, definitely screwed up any environmental policies we had, and he likes Nickelback.
He will not be missed
^ what she said. Harper did terrible things to our country and good riddance to bad rubbish!
What Arpeggi said 1000%.
+1 000 000.
And don’t forget, the two terrorist attacks last year were by white Canadian born citizens! But from the way Harper tells it, it’s not the case at all.
Yes, yes, and yes, Arpeggi.
Wait what. Harper likes Nickelback? I voted Liberal but now Im thinking I should have made my point by tossing him in Lake Ontario.
+1000000
ABH – we did it, guys!
Shewolf, you never saw the picture of him and Chad together? It became a great meme. He also loves The Beatles and used to sing Lennon’s Imagine in Conservative parties, but Yoko, and rightly so, forbid him to ever sing one of her late husband’s songs as a publicity stunt because such a war-lover bigot was not worthy of them.
+1,000,000 … infinity!! I was so glad that Trudeau got in. Harper has ruined my beautiful country and I have faith in Trudeau .. and he’s super easy on the eyes ..
Preach! And Harper slowly eroded everything that made our country great. Harper made his government less accountable to the people and more about his agenda. He renamed the government The Harper Government. He muzzled everyone who disagreed with him including our elected representatives, even within his own party. Sure the economy, yes I understand, but remember:
– omnibus bills
– shutting down debate in the house of commons
– being found in contempt of parliament
– closing the world-renown whole lake lab (Experimental Lakes Area)
– getting rid of the long form census
– closing libraries and archives of scientific research and literally throwing the documents in the landfill
– election fraud
– senate scandal
– not responding to the press or taking questions even during campaigns
– not coming to debates and not allowing his MPs to attend debates
– trying to bring in the Barbaric Cultural Practices tip line
I’m glad he’s gone and is stepping down as leader of the opposition. What will Harper’s legacy be?
Sorry for the rant – I’ll get off my soapbox now.
Thank you Arpegi and hopscotchchampion for enlightening some of our less knowledgeable commenters (like we all voted for him because he’s “hot”….*SIGH*)
TRUE DAT!
The CBC is our best source of info?!!!!!! OMG. If you want to be spoon fed partisan politics it is I guess. The CBC is a government funded business that competes with private companies in Canada for profits while using tax money provided by citizens. It’s hardly our best source of info unless looking to be brainwashed.
BUT – that doesn’t mean I was pro-conservative…I just REALLY disagree on the CBC
“and he likes Nickelback”
Bwhaha!!!
@hopscotchchampion thank you for sharing a brief but concise list! Amongst many other issues, there’s also the funding he appallingly yanked from exclusive research/science organizations and the related shut-downs of those units, and his overall increased secrecy & lack of accountability able to taxpayers, senate inquiries, or anyone at all.
Oh, and he specifically called this election with a ridiculously long lead-time, therefore spending GOBS of taxpayer money on attack ads and fear-mongering. “Buh-Bye, Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out”
Not to mention that the so-called terrorist attacks were by mentally ill people who were screwed around by the system. And instead of using his position to allay people’s fears, Harper tried ramping up the fear factor and used it as an excuse to bring in a draconian anti-terror bill. I wish JT had not voted in favour of that, that was one of my reservations towards him.
This fear mongering was defeated last night. Canadian dollar rallied this morning.
I guess we’re all tired of being estranged from our indigenous citizens, tired of defunding science, tired of being told to fear the ethnic groups that have already comfortably already integrated into our society. BTW, Stats Canada reports that crime is at it’s lowest level since 1969.
I agree it is a great win for Indigenous people, especially 1st nations women. Hope that he cares about us disappearing.
It’s not done yet, Lori. But I really hope that our new government spends less time engaging in litigation and more time really engaging with First Nations. Potable water, decent housing and education. We can’t get anywhere as a country until we address this.
“Hope that he cares about us disappearing.” What a heartbreaking statement
It was a good night for FN in the election and a great night for women as well. 10 FN members elected as MP’s as well as 88 women. Should be exciting to see who gets appointed where!
Wish there was a like button for this comment 🙂
It was Harper’s criminal apathy towards First Nations people that turned me Liberal.
The Tories were actually quite bad on the economy. They put all their eggs in one basket : oil in Alberta.
Canada did suffer a lot during Harpeur’s Reing (as we call him in French, peur = fear).
I
On a sad note: this will be the last campaign us francophones will hear about “erections” from our PM
but those oil revenues have funded many, many of the projects to the East. There’s a reason oil is supported.
It’s not the government’s fault that manufacturing hasn’t been making enough money for the business owners to keep it going. That’s a business issue, not a government issue. And yes, government sets policy, but even with low taxes for corporations and openness to outside investment, the industries of the east were not viable. Entrepreneurs need incentives. Higher taxes won’t be it.
178 milliards supplémentaires sur la dette, perte nette de plusieurs dizaines de milliers d’emplois, atteinte de la récession en fin de mandat – nos champions de l’économie mesdames et messieurs!
Sans parler du reste de leur bilan abyssal.
@ShinyGrenade
And an abysmal record it was. There were a lot of things that were promised to us over the last ten years that did not come to fruition. Either that, or the planned changes created a nightmare for some people, ie: Express Entry, First Nations Education, Senate Reform. The Liberals had Senate Reform high on their list. I would like to see changes to that, done without opening the Constitution.
It was also great that they sold GM shares at a loss to make their books look nice. Now GM has no further reason to stay in Canada.
The economy was better managed when the finance minister was a Liberal – Paul Martin.
And had Martin not regulated the banks, contrary t what Harper wanted, Canada would have experienced what the US did in 2008.
I could use actual facts all day to show how poorly the Tories ran the economy.
@laura
Bush/Cheney style scare tactics on ‘terra,’ don’t really work too much on anyone in North America anymore.
Neither does GOP style racism and code words: see Harper and his ‘old stock Canadian,’ (white people) bull.
I would think most Canadians should be blaming Harper for your falling currency. It’s gotten so bad I’m thinking of doing my Xmas shopping in Canada. Our dollar hasn’t completely swamped yours like this in 20+ years.
But the worst thing Harper has done to you, is turn Canada into fracking TEXAS, with your foul dirty tar sands from keystone and oil waste from Enbridge polluting what was a beautiful country not to mention the great lakes and other northern border states in the US. I swear it was like Dick Cheney was running your country. Scare tactics, big energy and all.
Hopefully Trudeau will stop the madness.
@Caro
You are very uneducated on Canada and the complexity of our issues and their relation to our economy and global trade and energy sector as a whole.
I’m from Manitoba. I agree with you. Crimes against the environment should be a real thing 🙂
I agree with you, they’re also wrecking BC as fast as they can what with the clear cutting of forests everywhere, and all the fracking up north. And they want to make a massive dam on thousands of acres of First Nations and farm land to assist them with all this insanity.
That SOB sold the Canadian Wheat Board to a Saudi Arabian company last week.
“Conservative government has accomplished the biggest transfer of wealth away from farmers in the history of Canada,” said Jan Slomp, National Farmers Union.
Clear-cutting hurts my heart.
@Laura – I see you bought in to Harper’s racist and scare machine good and proper.
Fear mongering does not keep our country safe nor does it not propel this country forward. Trying to divide us due to the colour of our skin or the religious garb we chose to wear does nothing but unite us in choosing a better Canada. Dismantling our National Parks piece by piece, selling Canada off to the highest bidder, muzzling scientists, secretly pushing thru bills that are systematically stripping away our Charter of Rights does not propel this nation forward.
A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian – we are not each others enemies… It is time for a change. For a positive change.
It is NOT a religious covering! Nor is the burqa! It’s an instrument of suppression and abuse! Educate yourself, people, before preaching of freedoms that turn girls and women into shadows! There was an excellent Youtube video of real muslim women talking about the niqab and burqa. Find it and watch it if you don’t want to see what I see everyday at school – girls in fear! Girls whose brothers ask them “who are you showing yourself to?”, whose fathers are behind their coverings, etc. Disgusting.
*oppression and abuse
This fear mongering was defeated last night. Canadian dollar rallied this morning.
I guess we’re all tired of being estranged from our indigenous citizens, tired of defunding science, tired of being told to fear the ethnic groups that have already comfortably already integrated into our society. BTW, Stats Canada reports that crime is at it’s lowest level since 1969.
I’m with you Laura.
And I am a social liberal, and am hopeful that Trudeau will be good for Canada, but he has no experience running a business, balancing budgets, and negotiating with other leaders and CEOs. He has a lot to learn. Being a ski-board instructor and teacher has not prepared him for this. I cannot imagine him dealing with Putin or Assad, and sitting in a room with Merkel. I get the shakes when I think that Trudeau and Trump might be the leaders of 2/3 of North America.
And if anyone says he was around for all of his father’s experience, his father put in a program that put us into a recession (NEP). And the sons of great athletes don’t become great athletes by being around them. Justin has no exposure to the workings of the issues the PM has to deal with. He was a teacher (and so am I, so it’s not an insult).
That being said, he’s a rich kid, whose peer group are the .2%. His car is worth 1 million dollars, the average home price is his neighbourhood is a couple of million. I don’t think there is any way he is going against his peer group. He’ll do a few ‘small changes’ (TFSA and income splitting), but I would be surprised if he takes on any big changes that impact the business crew much. There’s a saying about liberals – “They run from the left and govern from the right”.
@Ohdear
If you didn’t get the shakes with ‘W,’ ‘Cheney,’ and Harper – and the nightmare they caused, why get “the shakes” with Trudeau?
I won’t even entertain the Trump nonsense.
The Trump nutball reality show which brings in great ratings with our non-news networks over here, just tells you how bonkers and marginalized the right wing in our country is now. Not saying they won’t nominate him. They nominated a crack head who sounds like a 3rd grader after all….but it’s doubtful a conservative in the states will be President for a good long time. Unless they steal it like in 2000 and 2004. Which I don’t put past them, but it’s unlikely.
It looks like your Canadian conservatives are also crazy talking themselves out of power, as well.
Good riddance, I say.
Harper had never travelled outside of Canada prior to being PM. He worked In the mail room at Imperial Oil before running a think tank and then being an MP. Where was Harper’s experience?
Trudeau is smart enough to surround himself with people who have experience if he does not.
We will be just fine.
All of this. He is a joke and his father was far from a good leader. I only hope, in the habit, he won’t keep even half of his promises. And yeah to my kids being expowsed to drugs without my consent because life under Trudeau is cool, man, we all smoke the weed. Idiot.
Thank you! Although I’m ecstatic Harper lost, I’m not on the Trudeau bandwagon just yet. His father was not historically a great PM (although my mother got fully sucked into his PR hype and this one, too). I feel JT has the want to do some good, but he is far from having the chops or experience to get it done. Hopefully will not have some back room shadow cabinet pulling the strings like George W Bush got via his daddy. I Let’s see how fast JT goes grey.
@Caro, I was terrified about the Cheney and W. I do also think that Harper was far too secretive and made poor decisions. Because I didn’t mention it doesn’t mean that I did not. I hope Trudeau lives up to the requirements of PM. I can still hope to God there isn’t a Trudeau/Trump leadership in N. America.
@ohdear, you are right on the money. Yes we are all glad Harper is gone, but with a Liberal Majority headed by an inexperienced P.M that I know from speaking to a couple of elected liberal MP’s doesn’t actually make any decisions. There is a group of MP’s in the party, that are directing him in order to push the Liberal agenda.
Unfortunately strategic voting cost Canada real change in government. I am very very apprehensive of this liberal move as they have a track record of working with conservatives to push an agenda that benefits the class from whence most of those party members hail. That sweet 2%. This is not ideal, I just wish folks would stop being enamored with the last name, and the pretty ( well not to my tastes) face. Canada is NOT out of the woods by any means.
Trudeau is a good times, pot smoking rich bro dude. They ran numbers when voting for the head of the liberal party and they selected him because he is easy to manipulate but has the celebrity last name. We screwed ourselves. But hey at least Harper is gone…..so thats good.
@Scotchy thanks for the info from the MPs. It will be an interesting 4/5 years. I think the government will be just as secretive and back-roomy, just with a more personable front man.
Lol
Yes fear for Canada under the Liberals.
Congrats to us Canadians for not listening to fear and lies from Harper and his kind.
Time for young people to take charge and lead!
Laura I agree with you . Jeez. That’s what Canada wants in a PM? Someone they think is hot (barf bag please). His allegedly great dad brought this country into a depression… spend spend spend…
I didn’t agree with PM Harper on all issues, but I felt safe and we have had a stable economy . Well live and learn. History will repeat itself. . It always does . People will forget how ‘cute’ trudeau is eventually and concentrate on real issues, they will arise now, and Trudeau will have to handle them. The honeymoon will be over soon that’s my prediction.
@net22: That’s not “what Canada wants in a PM”. Give us a break, we don’t vote based on who’s the hottest guy. This was an election that brought out an unprecedented number of voters who weighed the 3 candidates carefully and chose the lesser of 3 evils basically. I voted Conservative in the last election because I was wary of the Liberals going on a spending spree and a few other unsavory issues they got us into, however at the end of the day the Liberal candidate in my riding got my vote because Harper’s racism, protectionism and cronyism was an affront to the majority of Canadians. And for someone who thinks pot is the devil why did Harper align himself so closely with Rob Ford and his brother Doug? So what if Justin Trudeau has money? It’s his money to do with as he pleases. The fact that he is ardently inclusive and wants the rich to do more with their money than hide it away in Swiss bank accounts or the Caymen Islands means something to regular Canadians. Oh, and check out Sophie Gregoire’s (his wife) work with “Because I Am A Girl”. They aren’t lazy rich like Normal Bill and Duchess Dolittle.
You don’t have a stable economy in Canada. You have high unemployment, especially for youth; you have a major housing bubble ready to collapse; you have extremely high consumer debt loads (see: housing bubble); you have an economy concentrated in 2 bubble-prone areas – resources (oil) and housing. You have the government (taxpayers) on the hook to pay back the banks for bad mortgage loans, via the CMHC. You have a pension problem and a larger Baby Boom proportionally than that in the USA.
Harper and the late Jim Flaherty propped up the banks and goosed the housing market during the Great Financial Crisis, that’s all. They just kicked the can down the road. Trudeau will be blamed for the outcome, no doubt.
Some people turn to authoritarians to feel “safe,” that’s all, but Canada’s crime rate is low. However, Harper put a lot of tax dollars into building prisons that you don’t need.
Jaded – I love Because I am a Girl! Had no idea Sophie was involved in it.
Harper was in bed with the Bush crime family, and he tried to undo every good piece of legislation that Canada ever passed. Justin has the guts to fight the greedy criminal bullies that are the US gov’t, He’s one of the good guys, thank goodness. PM Jean Chretien was the last good guy – he refused to kowtow to Bush when Bush tried to bully him to send troops into Iraq. Chretien said no – prove to me that there are actually weapons of mass destruction. Bush couldn’t, cause there were none. Chretien knew it was all a lie, and now everyone else does too. Thank goodness he didn’t for all the lies.
Ok let’s stay honest here, Chrétien has never been a “good guy”, he was a crook and one of the reason we were stuck with Harper for so long is because of the corruption system Chrétien and his buddies set up. How he and Trudeau plotted when we brought the Constitution back was also pretty shitty. But he was and remains a political beast and yes, he did managed to do some good on the international scene (though remember that Khadr was arrested under the libs and they did nothing for the poor kid). But still not a good guy, just a different type of awful.
Well I for one hope that the rich get taxed more, hope that the multi million corporations get taxed more, and that small businesses get supported. Now, hopefully, I won’t be at risk of losing my citizenship because I came as an immigrant as opposed to being born here. Having two classes of Canadians is fundamentally wrong and against traditional Canadian values. yes, we should allow more immigrants regardless of their religion, and yes we should take in more refugees – the conservative numbers were ridiculous in the face of the current Syrian tragedy.
And the fact that we had a PM who actually stopped the conservative candidates from participating in ANY debates is an insult to democracy anywhere. It is that arrogance and narrow mindedness that have cost the conservatives not only this election but a lot of seats even as a minority opposition party.
I couldn’t care less about the looks of the PM, all I want is a government that focuses on more than drilling oil out of sand pits as a means of shoring up the economy. There are a lot of issues that need fixing, and hopefully Justin and his team can start to address them ASAP. I was so happy to see the last of Harper last night that I cried.
“losing my citizenship because I came as an immigrant as opposed to being born here.”
Did you start with the weed last night? Because what you’ve written there, except if you are a criminal or a terrorist, is utter nonsense. Speaking as an immigrant here.
“Having two classes of Canadians is fundamentally wrong and against traditional Canadian values. ”
Really? Tell me, when was the Canadian society one class. Thanks in advance.
“yes, we should allow more immigrants regardless of their religion, and yes we should take in more refugees”
Oh, this is my forever favorite. Much touchy, so feeling. As someone who partly grew up in France and worked and lived in Sweden during Malmo, I am amazed by how little people think with their brains. Go ahead, I can catch the plane anytime but for the sake of others,hopefully the nonsense was only vote buying.
Wow, Mary Alice, going straight to insults right away. Nice. But if that is the kind of attitude that you think wins arguments, you go right ahead.
I was clearly referring to two classes of Canadian citizens – born and assimilated. And if you can strip one of citizenship – then yes, that makes them “less” Canadian than the ones born in Canada. I don’t want that, for me or anybody else who comes here after me. That does not make me a terrorist, thank you very much.
It is actually not the terrorists that scare me, it is people who think like you – after all, can you kindly quote how many lives how we lost in Canada to terrorism? Please, I want to understand the level of threat you think we are facing so that we should not allow people fleeing their war ton home and offer them refuge.
And you say you are an immigrant – maybe you personally left your native land because life was too good there – no taxes, free healthcare and education, peaceful white folk everywhere… whatever… most immigrants I know left their home, families, childhood friends looking for a better life because the conditions at home were intolerable. And since you seem to have zero knowledge of Canadian history – all the people you see around in this country not part of the Native community are immigrants. We have room for lots more. But if you think we are too crowded, please go back. We won’t miss you.
Look, I’m not even going to try to be polite about this. Do you like your free health care? Because Harper started defunding Medicare and planned to take out as much as 36 billion. How on earth do you think we get these services without taxation?????!! Canada’s economy is doing poorly right now because of the Conservatives for god’s sake. Maybe we shouldn’t have spent so much money on the wrong military causes (hey- why didn’t we try actually supporting our veterans, Mr. Harper, instead of pretending like we do???) and spent money where it could have actually boosted the economy. And in terms of crime and punishment, moving to an American prison system does nothing for prisoner rehabilitation and was a stupid decision. THAT’S what you should have been concerned about. Finally, how very dare you judge an ENTIRE group of people based on the actions of a few extremists? Have you considered that those who want to leave their lives behind in the Middle East are looking for a better life and actually have something to contribute to society? And furthermore, how are we, as a country of immigrants, suddenly allowed to turn up our noses at immigration? Maybe your citizenship should be revoked under Harper’s disgusting bill C-24. You need to re-evaluate your priorities because right now all I’m hearing is that you’re one of the 10% of families who benefits from the $2000 you get from income splitting and that you don’t have a shred of empathy in your bones. Harper has slowly ruined Canada and people like you let him do it.
OMG DMC. I just fell in love with you.
All rise for a slow clap, John Hughes style.
Laura, it will be fine. Don’t worry. My husband and I make a tidy sum and we are happy to pay higher taxes if it helps others. It takes the pressure off choosing charities 🙂
As for increased immigration and taking in refugees, yes, yes, yes! We have so much. So much land and space! Why not? Immigrants are required by law to start a business and hire Canadians for a certain amount of time. This is good! Harper’s mentality has shaken you up. Add in 9/11, US News’ daily terrorist bulletins, etc, etc…I understand why it frightens you. But you just have to live life and hope for the best in others. Be realistic. Are you really scared right now sitting in your kitchen sipping your coffee that ISIS is going to bust down your door right now? Be rational 🙂 We have a decent number of middle-eastern people in my small town of 14,000 and they are all very nice when you take the time to say hello 🙂
The vast majority of immigrants never land towards the land available or in the small towns, this is statistics. The vast majority lands in the three biggest immigrant centres which are already crowded,suffering high unemployment, especially among young people, and creating more and more part time jobs without any benefits. Pure statistics. And yes, this majority absolutely relies heavily on social assistance namely because of the lack of job opportunities. Bringing more people to those same cities (andno ome can make them land elsewhee if they don’t want to!) will not make it easier for anyone, so don’t try to fool the readers with your small town narrative.
Yay for us : ) Finally a PM who won’t be an embarrassment on the world stage!
This older lady I know in her 60’s stated that she’d rather watch paint dry than to hear another one of Harper’s speeches!
“I’m not going to go around reciting Pi to the 19th decibel”, Justin Trudeau, April 2013
Good luck with that, lol
As a Canadian, it was like Christmas. My son woke me up totally elated. For 1), Harper was voted out and 2), Harper kept his promise and resigned. 😂👍
He resigned through a note sent to journalists as he was giving his speech… Too coward to resign in public and of course, he won’t talk to journalists today
He will not be missed
He is only missed from what I have seen by a few fat cats who want to hang onto their millions and don’t want to be taxed their fair share. I don’t feel bad for those people today.
I’m thrilled that Harper is gone…it is totally time for change! But I was actually pleasantly surprised that he didn’t resign in his concession speech (or resign his seat, like Jim Prentice did – before the polls closed!!). Yes I’m glad he’s gone and I sure have never voted for him. But I think his closing speech was dignified.
Just like how he gave the bare minimum talking to journalists through his election campaign. What was it that he allowed, 5 pre-approved questions by journalists at each campaign stop? No spontaneity, no willingness to actually connect with Canadians on a personal/friendly level. Throughout his ten years as Prime Minister, the one thing that irked me the most about Harper was how he kept himself so secluded from Canadians. It was like torture for him to go out among his people!
Also, I laughed so hard at the start of his speech as he started in French by saying “Laureen et moi avons embarrassé la vie politique” (Laureen and I have embarrased politics), that was the only moment in the past 10 years where he spoke the truth.
he resigned as leader of the conservatives, but will still be a PM, though.
Albertans are super pissed that Prentiss just quit everything, requiring another MP election.
@ littlestar
Agree completely about Harper secluding himself from Canadians – the people he represented for 10 years. I always found that insulting, like the Canadian people were flies to be swatted away, annoying and nosy for wanting to know what was going on in their own PMO.
Good riddance to that Lego Man! (No disrespect to Lego)
@littletowner and @hogtowngooner
I never understood that either. Partisanship aside, how can I vote for someone who refuses to answer questions from Canadians – especially during a campaign? Can you imagine going into a job interview and saying, “I will only answer 3 pre-approved questions.”
Actually, his brother Sacha is the hot one. Justin looks like the perfect blend between his mother and father.
While I’m so, so glad Harper is out, I’m still unsure about how happy I am to have a lib majority; Trudeau is a bit of an airhead (at least compared to his father) and there’s a lot he’ll need to do to make our country good again. But still, yay for kicking Harper out!
Oh Lord you’re right! I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much prettiness in one family.
He looks kinda like Fincher in this one, lol.
https://nationalpostcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/sacha-trudeau.jpg?w=620
I don’t know, this is pretty good….
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/271623421252939959/
Did you saw Last Night with John Oliver? The bit about a journalist asking if Trudeau Junior was a smart as his dad and the other journalist flatly reply : No. He is emotionally smart.
I wish it was a minority government, with a strong opposition from the NDP.
But still, I guess the Liberals are wayyyyyy better than the Tories.
I watched John Oliver this morning and was rolling.
@ShinyGrenade
I’m sad that the NDP had to take such a hit for this change to happen (and that the Greens had no chance in moving forward at the same time). But sometimes you have a crack a few eggs to bake a cake… or in this case, strategically vote to most effectively get rid of the foul stench that had been hanging over this country for far too long. Time for Canada to move forward… I hope in time that starts to more heavily involve the NDP and the Greens. #strongertogether
Yes I saw it, and it’s something that is fairly agreed on, though he’s learning fast. While I like the Jon Oliver sketch, I sooo wished it would end with a “Stephen Harper doesn’t like Native women”, that would have been more powerful.
I too would have preferred more NDP MPs and a strong minority or a short majority but I’m sort of glad that the Tories can’t be back in 18months. Oh well…
Ditto on all. Lost some good NDP MPs in this but it sounds like voters wanted to be sure to get rid of Harper but good. And truth the tell, the NDP didn’t feel like the NDP. Maybe they’ll get their mission back in the aftermath.
Trudeau ran an effective campaign – there must be something going on between the ears.
I was surprised NDP didn’t make official opposition too.
Stephen Harper and Tom Mulcair are not as nearly smart as Pierre Trudeau was either.
Who ARE these people? – I agree with you, there was something missing for the NDP this election (and I’m going to say it, it was Jack Layton and his hopeless optimism and energy). I actually don’t think Mulcair is a bad guy, but he wasn’t uniting for Canadians and that’s why the NDP lost so many seats last night.
@layla I am sad for the NDPs too, but they really never stood a chance without Jack Layton. However, they and the Greens (and all voters) would be better served by proportional representation rather than our winner takes all system. I think (hope) the next big fight in Canada will be over electoral reform. This was one of Trudeau’s election promises.
http://campaign2015.fairvote.ca/
Just thinking about what could have been with Jack Layton makes my heart sad….. and I’m not even a full NDP supporter, but Jack Layton, there was a special special man!
The NDP used the same guy to run their campaign as who ran the disastrous BC campaign a couple years ago. NDP were supposed to win that BC election, instead Chrisy Clark running around the province in a hard hat flirting with mill
workers beat them easily. Personally I still feel like I was punched in the gut when I think of that election and when I found out who was involved federally I was prepared for the worst which happened. Half way through I even wrote a note on Mulcair’s page suggesting they rethink their campaign while there was still time and got dog piled on.
@tessy, I did not know that, but definitely shines a light on things. That last BC election was definitely a tear-jerker. Talk about disappointing!
@tessy, that election was bloody awful and i too cried.. BC native right here and damn Christy Clark for destroying our province. My mom worked for the NDP candidate ( who won yay!!) this campaign and I kept saying their strategy was bad and they needed to run a better campaign, she agreed but it was one of those things where hands were tied and unfortunately Mulcair wasn’t listening to those that said they needed to change campaign direction. I miss Jack Layton! Having any party with a majority in Canada does not benefit us the tax paying people… needless to say, I can’t think about the BC election without feel sad and rage…
I’ve got a lot of hope for cabinet because the lib MPs that were elected last night are impressive. it’s an embarrassment of riches when you look at their resumes and consider who will be put in charge of portfolios. We’ve got mayors, lawyers, UN observers, doctors, professors, small business owners, a General, police chief and an astronaut to boot!
We are going to be just fine.
Yep, including Ralph Goodale, the MP of the riding I live in. Goodale is one of the most hardest working, dedicated public servants in Canada. I’m glad the Liberal party has someone like him on their side!
Yes, yay for Goodale.
Happy the astronaut is back, too. Marc Garneau.
The police chief though – Bill Blair of the unlawful G20 detentions in Toronto.
Littlestar we live in the same riding! I voted for Ralph too!
Manitoba here, Littlestar!
I can hardly wait to hear the new PM FINALLY announce an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women!
I hadn’t looked into potential cabinet members, yet. So glad to hear that!
Original G – me too! I was so happy to read this morning that it is one of the first things the government is going to actually do. And let’s hope it’s the first step into a lot of healing between all Canadians (indigenous and otherwise).
Lurker – woot woot! Goodale is just awesome and a great representative for us :).
I am not missing,or indigenous don’t know anyone murdered, but we cannot continue on this track of estrangement. I think I will actually cry when I hear him acknowledge that issue.
I’m hoping with you.
Littlestar, I wonder if we might know each other in the real world. Regina is a fairly small place… 🙂
How weird would that be.
PS – I live in Whitmore Park.
Lurker – I live in the Creeks! I have been here over 4 years now, originally from Alberta :).
So happy! So very happy!
As an American living up here, I must say I found it hilarious that the only thing negative they had to say about Trudeau in ad campaigns was he was “just not ready”. I was saying to people, so they are saying in 10 years, he might be ready? LOL He is 43 btw. It was just funny to me given what I am used to in the US political ad-wise.
Nice hair though!
But I have to say, I was *so* disappointed when Trudeau cut his hair! I felt like it was caving to the Conservative pressure. And the new haircut makes him look like every other politician out there. Despite the topic that started this thread, I don’t vote for political leaders because of their looks. I’d have respected him a lot more had he kept the fluffy hair and focused on his platform.
But the “he’s just not ready” thing stuck to him like white on rice it became like his middle name. When he made his rebuttal ad he even started with “they say I’m not ready…” because it became such a thing. The conservatives were trying to highlight how immature he is, saying stuff like “the budget will work out itself” lol. But people didn’t care because they were done with Harper after 10 long hard years. At the last election they completely tarnished the other guy’s reputation by saying he is “Just visiting” because he once said he loves America and consider it his country too. Those kind of ads to stick to people’s mind. It’s hilarious.
Just visiting? I love it! Wish I could have seen that one!
That was for Michael Ignatieff, and sadly, it was accurate. Just a poor candidate.
Actually the NDP did it best when they laid out the members of the Conservatives who are not only in jail, but under investigation. Totally mind boggling, when it was all put together, I felt like taking a shower. Even though I’m not Conservative.
Trudeau is 43. Harper was 46 when he became PM. Sure, Harper, we’ll buy that line. I was thinking last night that Harper helped make Trudeau an underdog with all his attach ads – and who doesn’t love an underdog story.
I was just about to say that he’s only three years younger. In a family where I’m ten years younger than my two sisters, three years is pretty much the same age, to me.
that’s the thing that jumps out to me about Canadian politics, too. It’s all so nice compared to American style. And Conservatives were all about Trudeau not being ready? How much more ready can you be? The guy is an MP and has been for years. That doesn’t qualify you to PM 32 million Canadians, but any moron off the street can run for the presidency of 332 million Americans? (I mean, Trudeau is at least 100 times more qualified than Sarah Palin).
no he’s not.
+100
I thought I was seeing things.
Him? Really?
That isn’t sexy? http://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/opinion/editorials/2013/04/06/justin_trudeau_is_best_bet_to_renew_federal_liberals_editorial/justin_trudeau.jpg
I don’t think he is either. To each her (or his) own though.
+1. Doesn’t do it for me, at least not off these 2 pics
I agree. He is younger than the average prime minister, so he is easier on the eyes, but he just looks like a normal guy to me.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in some cases do people actually believe being “cute” equates to being a good PM? God help us
Oh thank god, I thought I was the only one. He looks like Finch from American Pie. Ugh.
Hamster cheeks and a gut to add, brrrr.
He looks like someone who cries after sex. Peter Facinelli cross Josh Groban. Obama is waaayyyy hotter.
The issue of wearing tights is interesting and of course ,in the past the dreaded garish colour which in the UK was called American Tan!!!
Bare legs used to be a lower class thing as ,without faux tan ,ladies legs could look horrible..
British white girls with blotchy veiny legs!!!Especially in autumn /winter ,but this article from the Guardian now claims that tights show you have no money!!!
Isn’t interesting how things turn full circle?!!!
I always thought the “tights are low class” argument originated in warm climates (like the south, or california) where people don’t HAVE to wear tights so they don’t freeze. I’m in Massachusetts and wore a dress last week…and was totally wishing I had some tights. Even if one is “rich” and lives in NY…it’s cold everywhere, not just outside. I think bare legs look goofy in cold weather.
Yes,I imagine where it is warm enough even in winter ,that is different to Europe and northern US states where practicality before fashion.
I am more of a trouser/Jean person..what you guys call pants!!,to me pants are knickers !!…underwear!!…
I think black tights look OK and with black shoes are fine with a dress …I think some royalty,Kate for example,were told to keep to a neutral !
Funny how different for different people these ‘rules’ are!
Tights are a winter must here. One does not go out in a dress/business suit/club dress at -40 without them. Sure, you can remove them when you arrive at your destination if you feel that you must but there is the possibility that you will blind those around you with the winter leg colour once you do. Pantyhose just don’t cut it at that temp either.
Looks like a cast member from Perfect Strangers.
OMG… yes! Bronson Pinchot or something like that?
Yeah, it’s awesome. We’ve elected a drama teacher that dropped out of university twice to be the prime minister…..
Harper also dropped out. And had one whole job in his early 20s before getting into politics.
True, but Harper spent a lot of time in politics before becoming a Party Leader. Trudeau has no political experience other than the last 2 years.
And went on to get his Master’s degree. In economics.
That’s not true Lori. He was elected in 2008 as an MP, so while he doesn’t have the decades that Harper has, he still has close to eight years experience in government. You can also argue the fact that Justin has been in politics since the day he was born, considering his father was Prime Minister and heavily involved his children in political life.
What?!? It’s his 3rd election! He’s been chief of the libs since Ignatieff resigned but he’s been an MP for a good 7-8 years (just like Harper had when he became PM)
You’re right – my apologies. I didn’t see that he had been elected in 2008. He just seemed so invisible before he was Liberal Leader. However, not sure if any of the other commentators remember when his father was PM. I certainly do and I remember the devastation of the NEP he implemented. He tried his best to bring the West to its knees. He has the same arrogance as his father. And that scares the hell out of me. Here’s his quote from 2010…
“Canada isn’t doing well right now because it’s Albertans who control our community and socio-democratic agenda. It doesn’t work,” Trudeau said.
When Lagace asked whether Trudeau believed Canada was better off “when there are more Quebecers in charge than Albertans,” Trudeau replied in the affirmative.
“I’m a Liberal, so of course I think so, yes. Certainly when we look at the great prime ministers of the 20th century, those that really stood the test of time, they were MPs from Quebec … This country — Canada — it belongs to us.”
Nope. He has more parliamentary experience than US President Obama did when he became President and UK PM David Cameron. And he’s been an MP since 2008 – seven years, not two.
@Lori. Even people in Alberta agree that the province needs to diversify it’s economy to make it more stable. Their recent provincial election seems to confirm that they support a more culturally and economically diverse society than in the past.
I also think you’re missing the humour about the Liberals.
And Harper was an economy major who never worked as an economist. He is an “economist” who does not value statistics. *smh*
Being a politician is a job too.
@ Lurker: And didn’t see the irony in accusing Mulcair of being a “career politician.”
Lori he is now the PM with a majority government. Deal with it. Just like we had to deal with Harper only treating some Canadians as worth his time. At least Trudeau will consider everyone Canadians and not just those who voted for him.
People need to stop with the “drama teacher” dig. What if he has been a janitor in his prior job? Or a hospital orderly? Or an assistant? People need to stop viewing some jobs as “lowly” and “beneath them”.
I agree. I saw one anti Trudeau ad on FB with the argument he has a literature degree—I have one too, so therefore, I can’t be in politics? Pshh…
No one ever said that being a drama teacher was lowly or beneath anyone. How does being a drama teacher prepare you to run a country as large and economically diverse as Canada?
How does being a clerk for 4 years at an oil company make you anymore prepared?
And Harper has a Masters in economics and somehow managed to create $150 billion in debt in ten years, so sometimes backgrounds and education don’t always help make a good ruler.
Has anyone ever watched a House of Commons debate? I think having worked professionally keeping children quiet and focused during class is EXACTLY the background he needs ; )
Apparently Harper worked in a mail room.
@Lori
You don’t think he got experience being raised by his Father. I’m sure he knows a hell of a lot of what goes on behind the scenes than most. Besides, he has advisors so chill out!
Math and French teacher actually.
He’s cute? Not to me.
He’s cute, but he looks 12 to me. Lol, I think he’s actually in his forties, though. Good luck!
He is 43. His wife is also stunning.
I know, right? They’re an attractive couple and now they have these 3 cute little kids. It’s like when JFK came in with the kids running around the White House. (Ouch, that was a few decades back, eh?)
I voted for Justin. I went to high school with a couple of his cousins and briefly dated one of them. I hope he is as nice and genuine as they are!
I wanted the NDP to win, as did a lot of people I know. A lot of people voted strategically, to avoid another harper turn. I don’t know if Justin will live up to Canada’s expectations.. but a potato could run this country better than what harper did in the last 10 years. He better put the conservations back into place to, harper seriously fucked our environment
A Potato? LOL I am loving these comments today. Having lived only 3 years in Canada under Harper’s reign, and having him delay my PR status (took me 4 years from the US) and now delay my applying for citizenship by another year (been here paying taxes 3 years, now have to wait another year to apply for citizenship—when it is all over with I will be under the paperwork of Canada for 10 years before things feel “settled”)
I hope the CIC is better funded soon so your application can at least be processed more quickly than most have been the past few years.
Yup, a few friends of mine have been in Canada for years, waiting patiently for the day they can apply for their citizenship, only to find out the goal posts had – again – been moved. I feel so bad for them. Hopefully things change and the process gets quicker and more efficient.
@ Andrea – Well thankfully, now that Harper is gone, once you do get your paperwork you won’t be considered a 2nd class Canadian citizen by the government always at risk of being kicked out due to your lowly non-birth Canadian status!!!!
Sorry to burst your baloon but I am also an immigrant and a citizen and my documents were moved super fast. I became a citozen literally four months after my 3 years PR were over. None of the immigrants I know around has had your issues, except one who knows why he had them but spares the story.
He’s not cute. I think the country needed a change so everyone voted for him but not because they think he will be a great leader or something. People were so fed up with Harper. Justin has time on his side so I’m hoping he will be a strong leader for Canada but I’m not holding my breath, like someone said above he is an airhead.
And you decided he is an airhead based on…?
Perhaps based on the fact that he brought the Liberal party from near oblivion to a firm majority with a coalition of very experienced and qualified candidates across the entire country?
That’s an airhead thing.
Or, is it because he’s not a dour scold pushing wedge issues?
I think I was the 1st one to say he’s an airhead… And I stand by what I said. It doesn’t mean that he cannot be a great PM, but I sort of worry about all the “intrigues” that happen inside a party. He’s not like Harper and will be very happy to delegate stuff to people who know better, and that’s actually great. But the libs (and the Tories, I know) don’t have a great history in regards of ethics, the campaign co-chair had to resign last week because he was caught sending mails to oil companies telling them how to lobby the potential ministers. I’m not sure that Trudeau has the smarts to realize everything that might be going on around him, and that scares me a little.
Also, being from Montreal, I had the opportunity to follow Justin for a while now and he has done some idiotic things, such as that weird video he made a few years ago in something I can only call “bilingual”: 2-3 mots in French et 2-3 words en anglais.
But he seems to learn fast, and he has some good people around him, I just hope that he’ll manage to keep the liberal machine under control. It wouldn’t have been as much an issue had they won by a smaller majority with more NDP MPs elected, the crooks would have to sit tight, but with such a majority, and with the Tories and NDP likely spending lots of time finding new leaders, some party organizers might go back to their old habits
He didn’t bring the Liberal party to any win, the people voted against Harper. There is a huge difference between these two statements. Trudeau cannot bring any party to a majority governmemt, the opposing vote to another politician can and did it. With such a weak campaign, NDP was clearly out, so people voted to make sure the Conservatives were out but let’s not sing hymns to the little Trudeau. Two years from now there will be a different tune sung, I’ll place a bet.
@Arpeggi, c’est quoi this bilingual video? je veux le voir
Is it this political one for some website? It’s not so bad, more like every other sentence. I speak like this, but because my french is not that great
Ok again, as someone that had more than one conversation with prominent Liberal MP’s they didn’t pick him because he was going to be a great leader. They picked him because he listens and does what the more advance and politically savvy Liberals tell him to do. They ran numbers on him and he tracked well. He has a name people recognize and appealed because of his age to a demograph they needed. I also know a friend of his and yes he is a nice simple rich white dude. He is kinda an airhead. He has an emotional intelligence and makes an excellent acting puppet which is what that party needed to win.. and they did.
Just because someone is a little concerned Trudeau is too young and inexperienced doesn’t mean they voted Conservative.
When you study the numbers, Trudeau received support from only half the country. The country is divided.
… Which is still better than when Harper won his majority with only 30% of the votes (out of the 60% that actually voted)… Votes, especially in a 3 (4 in Qc) party race will always be divided. I’m looking forward to see if the libs will respect their promise to try to change our representation system to a proportional representation
“The country is divided.”
As always. The East/West divide is etched in the history of our country, and it looks like we won’t be overcoming it anytime soon. I’m from Alberta and now home is BC, so I was actually surprised by the Lib majority because I know what a stronghold the Conservatives have out here. In my mind a positive outcome would have been a Conservative minority with the Libs and NDP forming a coalition (not sure that still wouldn’t have been the best possible outcome).
But it is worth noting that in many, MANY western ridings the conservatives won because the Libs and NDP split the left-of-centre vote (which is what always happens). I was surprised that Alberta remained as blue as it did, though, given the last provincial election.
But again, this is why we need electoral reform so badly!
@Petichor:
Proud to say, I am sitting in one of the four Liberal ridings in Alberta. It feels great! 🙂
There was a LOT of information and a big push here for strategic voting and it made it possible for the few non Conservative ridings to make head-ways. There were a few other ridings in Calgary in which Liberals lost by only a few % of the vote in part, thanks to the strategic voting platform. But yes, the left vote always gets split and the Conservatives are just so strong here. It doesn’t help that places, such as, more progressive mountain towns are being lumped in to larger ridings that comprise of mostly rural (conservative) strongholds giving difference voices absolutely no chance of ever being heard. Electoral reform is a must! I can not wait for the day that proportional representation prevails.
@Citresse:
“The country is divided” …… More people voted in this election than have voted in the past TWENTY YEARS. I’ll take that divided country over the under representation that voted Harper in time and time again.
@Layla, as I mentioned, I’m an Alberta girl, but I’ve been living in BC for almost 10 years now. I grew up in Calgary, but am pleased to say I was living in Linda Duncan’s Edmonton Strathcona riding when she was first elected. It was heady days living in a left-wing enclave of Edmonton in the early 00s when the NDP first started making inroads.
Now I live in the Okanagan, which is basically western Canada’s Palm Springs or Miami. All the retired Albertans come here and bring their conservative politics with them. Remember Stockwell Day? I couldn’t even escape him when I left Alberta. When he moved from provincial to federal politics he moved from Alberta to BC and he was my MP when I got here in 2007. There’s just no escaping the blue (hair or politics) out here.
For those not familiar with Day, he’s the one Rick Mercer started the petition about (for Stockwell to change his name to Doris), and I think fancied himself a pinup politician, based on stunts like showing up to a press conference via WaveRunner (Google Stockwell Day seadoo for images). So yeah, pretty boy Justin is either a) par for the course, or b) not so bad, depending on your politics and perspective.
@Petrichor
Day used to live down the street from me. He is a really nice guy. He is actually a very good commentator on the news shows, but I think he let the golden boy stuff g to head VERY easily. He was silly.
Alberta went NDP to go against Prentiss, not to go NDP, per se. That being said, Edmonton has been way more liberal than Calgary, and rural is becoming more left as well. Which I think is what happened to the Federal Conservatives, too. Anyone but Harper. He would have served his party best if he had someone else lead the party.
It is an interesting time in politics!
I wonder how many non-Canadians have read through the comments on this post? It has to be the most Canadian commented on post ever.
@ohdear, oh, I totally agree that Alberta going orange was reactionary against the Cons rather than embracing of the NDP, but at least the desire to finally be rid of the Cons after a 40-year reign didn’t lead Alberta into the open arms of Wild Rose! And though I have disagreed with just about everything Mary-Alice has had to say here today, I do agree with her on this: a vote for the Libs yesterday was less a vote for Trudeau than a vote against Harper. I hope Trudeau understands this and works hard for Canada and Canadians.
Petrichor, I live in the Okanagan and I remember his jet ski stunt. Holy embarrassing Batman.
It was kind of shocking to me how Conservative this area is.
This country has always been and will continue to be divided until a few things are settled. First Nations issues must be dealt with, all of them. It is a huge complicated area but it needs to be settled one way or another or the repercussions are going to be tremendous. The world is watching how we fix it and it will not wait forever for it to be done. We also need to fix the fractures between East/West/and Quebec. Granted, that has been a problem pretty much since day one but I am hopeful that electoral reform will be a huge step in that direction.
When you have a country as diverse in cultures and beliefs as ours, division is always going to be a problem. Sheer land mass size alone also creates for divides that cannot be easily repaired. Where ever the majority of the population lives, the majority of the decisions are going to come from. This is a problem for those of us who live outside of metro areas. In BC we like to say that there is no hope beyond Hope. Sadly, a lot of the decisions that are made are great for the lower mainland and the highly populated southern interior but not so great for those of us in the central and northern BC areas. The only real hope that there is for that divide is electing good representatives at a provincial and federal level that can have their voices heard and will listen to the people who elected them. Unfortunately, we all know that power corrupts and that many who go in with the best of intentions are beaten down by the political beast.
I wish the answers to the division of Canada were easy but they are not.
This is what happens in a first past the post system. Until that changes no government gets a majority of the vote.
^Exactly. The Liberals have put this first and foremost, already announcing that they will be working on this to find a proper solution. I am hoping that they actually live up to this promise. It would be nice for those of us out West, haha! 🙂
Yes, nepotism in politics is fabulous. But look how nice his hair is!
Don’t you forget that hair lol
Nepotism? Explain how someone who has been out of office for 30 years and dead for 15 performed this miracle of nepotism?
You think he would get to where he is, with his amount of experience, without his father’s legacy?
Bobo – maybe not, but now that he’s here, he has to prove he can do it on his own.
PS – Could have been worse – How does Prime Minister Ben Mulroney sound?
casey – If that ever happened, viva la revolucion! I imagine some sort of Canadian Idol voting period every week in the House of Commons.
But Ben is a smart enough of an airhead to know he shouldn’t be in politics. Just keep coiffing that hair, Ben…
Imagine Ben’s cabinet though – Lainey could be Minister of Gossip, his wife Jessica could be Minister of Fashion and his side kick on Etalk could be Minister of Bubblehead Wisdom. You have to admit, he has charisma and he has smarts. He’s just wasting it all on that show of his.
Nepotism in politics? What do you have to say about the Kennedy’s, or John Adams and John Quincy? Plus the hair comment showed how juvenile the Conservative’s were.
Plus Atwood should have had the right to express her views about Harper’s hair.
Let’s be clear – I voted Liberal. I voted for the party, and he unfortunately comes with that.
There are many, many, many more politicians who have got to where they are because of family connections, and it has turned out terribly. I would rather have a leader who had to earn his way to his position.
And the hair comment is in response to (several) comments I have read from people so thrilled Justin is the new PM because “he’s so gorgeous” and “he’s my bae”. That type of superficiality playing a part in the voting process makes me ill. Neither side should be commenting about looks, it’s absolutely ridiculous.
He has his mother’s crazy eyes.
What’s all this talk about change in his victory speech, when he’s Pierre Trudeau’s son?
Margaret Sinclair is bipolar, this is a very lousy thing to say
She reverted back to Trudeau, not her maiden name Sinclair – seems odd when you consider the fact that she re-married AFTER she and Trudeau divorced and her last name then was Kemper.
Unkind, Chelsea. In 2015, we can probably stop using the word “crazy” when discussing people with mental illness (she is bipolar).
Chelsea and Casey…I’ve met Margaret Trudeau. Sat down and had several long talks with her. She was keynote speaker at our organization’s annual conference in 2011. She’s magnificent. She is utterly without a facade, painfully honest about her past and issues with bipolar disorder, deeply and emotionally in love with Canada, and funny as hell. So who gives a rat’s ass about what name she goes by????
I don’t – I was merely pointing something out. I’ve never met Margaret but I’ve read Beyond Reason and am familiar with her journey. Why so touchy? I think your screen name says it all.
Casey: You should read her book “Changing My Mind”. It’s about her lifelong battle with bipolar disorder and the havoc it wreaked until it was diagnosed. So many people just think she’s a flake and a party girl but she went through hell. If she can reach more people who may be suffering from various mental illnesses by using Trudeau instead of Sinclair or Kemper then by all means do it – her passion is to bring knowledge, understanding, compassion and treatment to those who suffer from mental illness.
Jaded – thanks for the suggestion, I’ve heard of it but haven’t picked it up yet.
Jaded, how cool that you got to meet her…I’m envious!!! And I don’t know why I was thinking the name of her book was “Past Imperfect”…..no wonder I thought it was out of print, that’s the wrong title!! It was “Beyond Reason”….my only excuses are not enough caffeine and too much excitement when I originally posted this morning. And I don’t know how I missed “Changing My Mind” but it’s now on my to-read list.
I think of Margaret as the Princess Diana of her day….there were a lot of similarities.
She probably just wanted the same name as her kids? What’s wrong with that? I’m divorcing my husband and I’m keeping his name because it’s our son’s name and we’ll always be a family, regardless of our marital status.
Crazy eyes……wow, that’s cold.
I was kind of hoping Mulcair would win. But I think the beard scared away some voters!
I have heard some wicked things about Mulcair—how he is a turncoat and went with whatever party would give him the most money.. I don’t know about you guys, but I’d prefer to avoid someone like that as PM.
I was hoping the 15 dollar a day daycare goes through for needy families.
I am hoping for that daycare subsidy too. I don’t have kids, but I think it can help single mothers and working family’s a lot.
You could push for it in your province though. The NDP got inspired by Quebec’s daycare program, it could be implemented elsewhere, education is a provincial thing after all. Mind you, the program here was not well taken care of and somehow, politicians never suspected how popular it would be (c’mon! you give us $7/day daycare and 12 months parental leaves and not expect us to start making babies?!), you have to try to find a place for your kid almost the moment the pregnancy test turns positive or you’ll have to spend more in a privately-owned daycare. And there’s no priority for low-income/single-parent families which can suck. It’s far from perfect, but you could make it better in your province.
Mulcair quit when he was Quebec Liberal Minister of Environment in because the government allowed a big development in a provincial park. That doesn’t make him a “turncoat”. He’s actually very principled and honorable.
Wow, I’ve yet to see a Celebitchy post about a Canadian – other than Bieber – that’s garnered so many comments!!! And someone who is STILL in Canada lol!!
PS – did anyone catch the post-election comments on The Social today? Had to laugh at Lainey who of course had to give her 0.02 on the election
No one from Canada considers Bieber a Canadian.
That’s understandable.
We gave him to you, along with Celine. Take Nickelback while your at it, please.
I don’t want him, I live in Canada ffs!! Oh and I don’t want Nickelback either.
I’m really tired of the condescension from the right. As if, people didn’t know who or what they were voting for. The ad hominum attacks and general intolerance are so old and it seems was rejected by 70% of the population.
Let’s move on.
I agree. I saw an acquaintance on Facebook this morning saying people who voted Liberal are “stupid”, and what a waste of a vote and they don’t know what they are in for with paying higher taxes (he’s an average Joe, I don’t think the taxes he pays are going to change much if at all). I just though, really?! You feel entitled to other people’s votes and call people stupid for how they chose to use their vote? I just can’t believe people like that. It’s hard to take them seriously when they are calling others stupid for not voting the same as them.
More positivity is what we need! 🙂
conservative policies only benefit the top 1% so that means there are a lot of stupid conservative supporters who don’t realize that they are voting against their own interests. But play the bigot card and they will bite.
I hope now that he’s out we will be hearing major dish on whatever was going on in Stephen and Laureen’s marriage.
My brother lives in Ottawa and deals with a lot of politicos in his line of work and has passed along some interesting rumours about them.
Ok. Now I’m interested…..dish.
OMG we have friends in Ottawa too who work in the government and they have told us the “rumours” about the Harpers as well. G, what do scumbags in unhappy marriages usually do?
No shade on people who separate. It is what it is. But his coded courting of “old stock” Canadians and the religious right make it disappointing to me that he’s fronting for them while personally vulnerable. (And, who isn’t?)
The rumour is she left him in 2009ish and was/is having an affair with a female RCMP officer assigned to the PM team. They kept up appearances for official engagements and then the campaign (perhaps for their two children, as well), and she was living in her own place in Ottawa and Calgary where they’re from. But now that’s he out, they’ll divorce quietly.
I read a rumour somewhere that they are separated. But it didn’t seem to be repeated anywhere else and the source seemed a bit weak. Anything’s possible, I guess. Can you spill any beans, hogtowngooner?
Dish! Dish!
Rumour for years is that she lives at the Chateau Laurier.
There was an unconfirmed rumour floating around the interwebs a few years back that Laureen had had an affair with a female member of Stephen’s RCMP security detail, and that she and the officer have been living together. I so want to know if it’s true.
OK. THAT is a dish.
Chateau Laurier? I would give anything for the Fairmont President’s Club perks she’s earned.
(Let me just say, that I’m going to take this as fanfic type gossip that’s entertaining and not give it much credence.)
This rumour tends to be well known in cop circles. And often Baird, who was in a glass closet, would accompany her to things.
Yes, I’ve heard this too, from a very reliable source with inside connections.
Vive le Canada!
Has anyone heard the news that creepy ” Uncle” Terry Richardson the photographer is going to be a father?
CB already posted on that separately yesterday
Yes, twins at that! poor kids. . .
Will he be known as Justin instead of PM Trudeau? I thought it was inappropriate of the other party leaders to call him Justin and it caught on within the media too.
Gracious the brother is hot too! I’m digging it.
I don’t get the thirst for this man. Still, I’m glad Harper is out.
I think, for most Canadians at least, we couldn’t care less about his looks, we just clung on anyone that could get us rid of Harper. I was happy to live in a riding where I could vote NDP without a bit of guilt, but my mum, who was a young adult in 70 and has seen too many ppl get arrested for no reasons thanks to the war measures, really struggled with the thought that she might have to vote libs instead of NDP just to keep Harper out.
Anyway, Justin has never been my type, but as stated previously, I think his brother is kind of hot. The fact that he stoop up for political prisoners and denounced the Irak war and the fear for WMD certainly helps; Sacha would certainly have made a better PM than his brother.
Sadly at the time the War Measures Act was necessary. We had home grown terrorists kidnapping and murdering people. To do anything other than to react would have been suicide. And one of my best friends had both of his parents arrested in the events. His mother went on to be a judge in Quebec so it didn’t hurt her.
The honeymoon will be over for Canadians in 6 months. Justin has no experience. He got in because people wanted anyone but Harper. Certainly not on any of the serious issues. He didn’t even attend the unveiling of his own fiscal plan because he couldn’t answer the hard questions.
And before you all slam me for being a Harper defender, know that I come from a long line of Liberals who have served in office. I also have a relative who worked with Justin. Our new PM is pretty, but not too bright. Let’s hope he’s a fast learner.
No one’s gonna hear you here, we are haters but you speak the truth. I give him 2 years, though. The first one will pass quickly in fulfilling the cheapest and easiest promises that bought many votes. After that will start the real life and past the first taxation cycle, tune will begin changing. For the record, I don’t vote big parties, I vote the smaller ones.
I think he has others to make all the calls, he is just the face of the party. He’s George W all over again.
I genuinely don’t know how bright people think politicians have to be. I mean, the business of politicking is really just moving votes here or there. You certainly don’t have to be an economist or a corporate manager. The strongest political leaders just need to stay connected with the middle class and know how to use the assets at hand.
This seems to be off the popular Canadian election topic but, Liam Hemsworth IS really famous. Not sure I understand the shade- he just flies under our Celebitchy radar.
He went from having only (LOL) $1-2 million in the bank, to tens of millions from doing those 4 Blockbuster Hunger movies with Jennifer Lawrence. The publicity surrounding those films and their fans is insane. So, I think that’s what he’s referring to but, that in his everday life he is still left pretty much alone. But, he is very famous- maybe even more so outside of the U.S.
Don’t really follow Candian politics that closely, so can anyone tell me what significant changes this guy is going to bring to Canada?
Electoral reform is the big one at the moment. We current use the “first past the post” system which can, and often does, mean that votes from the provinces in the West (west of Ontario) may not even matter. The Liberals are looking to change the system to one that will be sure that all votes count.
The cancellation of the F-35 program. We were told that the replacement of our aging Air Force planes would cost about $9 billion. As of today, double that and we still have no planes. In fact, the model chosen by the Conservative government is not even in production yet.
The entire Liberal platform can be found here. As always with politics, take everything with a grain of salt. https://www.liberal.ca/realchange/
Even to attend a Harper rally you had to prescreened to make sure who you were & all questions checked before hand. How can you seriously be a leader if you can’t answer questions from the public you represent. What kind of leader only pre-screens every person and every question before hand?
Another point was their total disregard for Natives and the missing women in Canada. Harper flat out said that an enquiry into it “wasn’t on his radar”. It showed his desperation when he started campaigning with the Ford brothers. So he doesn’t like MJ but having a known crack head who does business w/ gangsters is ok? Rumour has it that Doug wants to run for leader of the Cons now. Stuff just gets crazier!!!
I do know that a lot of questions are pre-screened for time allowances and for relevance. I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt on that one. I have been to debates and rallies where it gets out of hand and they have all sorts of people asking insane questions.
As to the missing and murdered Native women issue. That is a huge issue in my area (the Highway of Tears runs through here). I hope that more happens than another inquiry. 42 have already been done. It is time to actually do something about the problem instead of studying it.
Campaigning with the Ford brothers was more fodder for the media circus. I have no idea who decided that was a good idea but it looked ridiculous. I cannot imagine that the Conservative party will vote Doug in even if he runs. The members of the party itself could not have been pleased by the optics of the Fords being seen with Harper and I cannot see them being thrilled with the optics of Doug running the party.
I don’t understand how a government, any government, is supposed to change the attitude towards women in any given society. Who doesn’t know the amount of abuse that happens in First Nations society amd why do you pretend those women disappear in some magical way? There are anumber of RCMP reports on the abuse tne girls are suffering in their own homes and close environment as well as how many end up in Vancouver’s prostitution district as early as the age of 11 (I say Vancouver now only because there was a good article I read recently giving statistics on the number of native girls among Vancouver’s prostitutes). What do you want the government to do, I’m totally lost on this? To forbid them raise girls? To change their brains? Get real.
@Eden75
I agree with you about an inquiry. I think most everyone knows why there are so many missing and murdered aboriginal women and an inquiry isn’t going to teach us anything we don’t already know.
It’s time real money was spent on housing, health and education within the native communities. These girls/women are growing up and living in poverty, often raised by abusive and addicted parents and then they end up prostituting themselves on the streets. When social services do step in, they end up in foster homes where they are also often abused or they are housed in cheap motels with little or no supervision or guidance, where they continue to be at risk or access to drugs, alcohol, abuse, etc.
I voted for the Liberals but honestly, I have little faith in any government to make a real difference in the lives of our native population.
One of the things for me that made think a bit better of Justin was his comments on Bill C-51. I was upset when he voted for it with Harper but when he had a chance to explain his side of it, I didn’t totally disagree. There are parts of the bill that are great, parts that are far to over reaching as far as access to our information and how they will use it. Justin Trudeau agreed with that and explained what his government will do, I respected his answer.
The other thing I have been seeing from him that I like so far is his openenss. He chastised people the other day for heckling reporters trying to ask questions. He said we respect journalists in this country, they ask tough questions because they are supposed to. Harper’s government was the most secretive, closed one I’ve seen in a while.
His ideas for taxation also are appealing to me. Tax the richest at a higher percentage than middle class families. You earn more, you pay more – I don’t see an issue with that.
Also, I attended two candidate debates in my area. Neither time did the Conservative candidate show up to ask questions, empty chair both times. I know that wasn’t just my riding but across the country Conservatives were not able to speak. The few times they did, they were silences almost immediatly. That was apparently an order from the boss. Total control and no straying off the party line. If you want people to trust and vote for you, you need to be available to present yourself and be open to questions.
There are many other issues that I had with them and with Harper & his government but these are the main ones. If I listed them all, it would go on forever. I am not a Liberal supporter, I am normally NDP but if I would have had to vote Liberal last night to get rid of Harper I would have.
Rumour has it that the Conservative candidates were only to attend the debates held by the Chambers of Commerce. I have no idea if that is actually true but our city is split into 2 ridings and they only came for that one.
I find that all of the parties have things that I can agree one. I base my vote on who will be representing mine and my companies best interests in the area. Sadly, I don’t believe that the person who won our riding is the best but alas, such is life.
**Edited to add: I also agree with you about C-51. They have said that they will pull it apart and ratify or remove the absolutely vile sections of it. I am holding out hope that they will. I also forgot to add for MND that legalizing marijuana is also on their platform. This has been an issue that has been rolling (no pun intended) around this country for awhile. The major hold up was that the US was so against it but that seems to have softened at the federal level as individual states look at holding votes on the issue and that some along our border already have.
“Harper’s government was the most secretive, closed one I’ve seen in a while.”
Yeah, that’s even an understatement. I liken Canada under the Harper government to the proverbial frog who won’t jump out of the water if it’s heated slowly to boiling. He slowly eroded Canadian democracy until it was just a shadow of itself, and so many Canadians just kept handing him more matches and kindling. But I think he got a little too openly cocky and arrogant in the last year or so, and started heating the water too quickly. Thank god the frog finally jumped to freedom!
My conservative candidate is terrible, she was elected. I’m in Alberta
She only did the chamber of commerce debate. She refused all others. She would not do interviews unless she was given the questions 24 hours in advance and no follow up questions were allowed. People who went go her campaign page on Facebook to ask about when she would be doing public speeches or debates were blocked.
She’s homophobic, transphobic, anti-sex ed, anti-abortion.
I’m really disappointed. Our district was redrawn to be only the city rather than the surrounding rural areas. I really hoped we would get a progressive candidate. But thankfully we have a liberal government nationally.
We prefer NDP, but will take liberal over conservative. It was rough to see the NDP fall so much
Thanks for the responses.
@Mary-Alice
What the government should do is fund the proper channels better to see what the hell is going on. 1200 people is a lot of people to be killed or go missing. Yes, the Harper gov did manage to have 42 studies done however they have done nothing with the results of them. Take the results and create action by way of funding to the RCMP so that they can get the resources to investigate the cases. Yes, we are aware of the violence that happens on reserves however many have disappeared without a trace off of the reserves.
“The Highway of Tears murders is a series of unsolved murders and disappearances of young women along the 720 km (450 mi) section of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada from 1969 until 2011. Police list the number of victims at 19, but estimates by aboriginal organizations range into the 40s, largely because they include women who disappeared a greater distance from the highway”
The Highway of Tears has had a lot of people disappear on it as well. These women are included on the total of the missing/murdered. Not all of them are Native (Nicole Hoar being one and she is still missing). If 1200 people disappeared out of the city of Ottawa like this, there would be hell raised. It has taken the issue being dragged out as an election issue for the rest of the country to wake up and be aware of what has been going on. When something of this magnitude comes to light, it takes the power of everyone to get it solved.
@Eden, yes, and let’s use the momentum created by the Truth & Reconciliation Commission report this summer to continue foregrounding aboriginal issues. I had the good fortune to be in Ottawa when the report was released, and the energy was amazing.
Interestingly enough, out of the 42 elections held in Canada, 24 have been won by the Liberal party in it’s varying states. That would be over half. For those who are still fear mongering that Canada will fall apart and go to pieces, we haven’t so far and we won’t in the future. There is always change and it was time for Harper to go. Might have the results been different if the Conservatives had elected a new leader? Possibly. Harper is extremely disliked among the Canadian people. The next four years will be the only report card we will have and we will just have to see what happens.
For those who are all against the Liberals, I say if you like many of the freedoms you enjoy now, you need to research who was in power when they were passed, ie: abortion. The law was ratified in 1968-69 (under the Liberals) to say that it was not illegal if it was signed off on. The R v Morgentaler case had the Supreme Court rule that abortion was legal and the choice of the woman not a panel of doctors. The Conservatives then tried to pass a new abortion law to make it illegal again in 1988 which was struck down. I’m not trying to start a comment war, just stating facts.
The people of this country have spoken and once again, in true Canadian style, have politely told one party we are finished with you, get out. There are a great many comments above that state good things for both sides but as a democracy, what the people vote is what you get. If he sucks at the job we will politely tell him to gtfo and vote in someone else next time around.
(Just as a note, I live on the West Coast in one of the areas that voted in a Conservative MP. My political views are not part of my comments, just restating facts.)
Thumbs up to you, Eden. Thanks for saying all this.
One has to put their degree in Canadian History to use occasionally, hahahah!
He looks like Lee Pace!!!!! Yaya!
Just want to say how nice it’s been to get acquainted with hitherto unsuspected Canadian Celebitches!
We are too polite to mention where we are from unless we are discussing the looks of our leaders apparently, hahaha!
Canada loves its Celebitchy. I am here at least 4 to 5 times a day. It’s great here and love that we can all debate with out getting nasty and personal.
I will be watching with nervous anticipation what the American election does. Is Trump still a real serious contender? It seems crazy to me.
I agree, we do seem to love gossip.
I am very keen on the American election. It will shape many of the policies that a group of us are working on. I hope to whatever higher being there is that Trump is not actually a serious choice and is just there for the ratings. He makes the Fords look normal.
Congratulations Canada, you are back on track to true Canadian values – man I love this guy more and more. Heard his speech yesterday very moving and spectacular. Today he goes into a subway station in Montreal to thank and meet with passengers. Trudeau ❤️
And did you notice how he wasn’t surrounded by walls of security people? You can actually go and speak to him one on one. Rare that you can get that close and personal with a politician, I think it really shows that Justin is a man of the people. People can say what they want about Justin Trudeau but I truly beleive that he has listened and hears what Canadians want and what we are thinking.
I am very excited for the next 4 years to see what he can do for us.
When he’s in motion he gives off a Liam neeson vibe
Harper and Australia’s Abbott were climate change deniers and good mates…we got rid of Abbott now Harpers gone. We just have to turf the conservative LNP and I’ll be happy.
These guys are crooks plain and simple, in bed with big business. The people have had enough.
Agree. Any politician who denies climate change is a fool and is unfit to lead. As soon as I hear that someone is a climate change denier my default position is to try and find fault with anything else they say.
After John Oliver’s commentary this week, it’s hard to read up on this PM without giggling.
” I love movies and TV shows. One of my all time favourites is Breaking Bad. It’s even available on some on-streaming services, if you haven’t seen it!” Said whilst standing in front of a Netflix screen logo. Ughhh! At least he didn’t call it ” The Breaking Bad Show”.
+1 on John Oliver 🙂 I’m telling you, he’s zoolander.
So happy I live in Canada and hope he is the change we have been needing!! Plus yes he’s hot!!! haha
Oh please…so we’ve voted for a PM based on how he looks? Yeah, he’ll be really sexy while dragging our country down, but I guess they’ll be enough folks stoned on legal dope not to care what happens. Everyone that wanted Harper out needs to realize that change for change sake is never a good thing. Those of us in Western Canada are out in the cold as usual, and those in the East rule the country. Blah blah blah…
Please don’t speak for all Western Canadians. Just because it’s nigh on impossible to get away from Conservative politics out here doesn’t mean that the Conservatives even come close to representing the values of us all.
^This.
As for the high on dope comments. Please. If it does get legalized do you honestly think everyone is going to run out and start smoking? There are also 4 states where medical and recreational are legal (5 if you include DC but there are a few issues with Congress there) and 13 where it is decriminalized. Most countries in the world have decriminalized it and a few have made it legal (Iran being one of them). Legalizing marijuana isn’t going to make a whole ton of difference in this country. Walk down any street in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, etc, and you will find people smoking right out in the open. I don’t smoke, never have, but pot is no worse than alcohol. Making it legal is not going to spell the end of society as we know it. All of the misinformation that is being spit out by the anti-marijuana side is almost identical to the Prohibition arguments of the 1920’s.
It’s been mentioned that Justin Trudeau was born on Christmas Day. When the second boy (Sasha) was also born on Christmas Day, Trudeau the Elder reportedly said: “Even God only had ONE son born on December 25th.”
Please don’t inundate my comment with ” Jesus wasn’t actually born that day, etc, etc.”
There are so many weighty and considered opinions here, this story, while true, is just to inject some levity.
oh, that is hilarious!!! I had not read that before LOL
Jesus wasn’t actually born on that day. You’re a troll. A nasty, nasty troll.
Yup, that’s me. Unassuming Canadian by day, a troll by night.
A nasty, nasty troll. You got me.
I really think in the end, Harper’s defeat came when he simply offended too many Canadians by being too rude.
WHERE in THE name of Justin did this come from?
Cute? Really?! Regardless, for the sake of Canada I hope this guy has other, more relevant qualifications to lead a country than simply supposed good looks…
He wasn’t the one who wrote this article/headline nor was his campaign focussed on his looks. Sheesh.
thank you, gayle.
i am loving the majority of the level headed comments on here, but to actually pretend he won because of how he looks is insulting to canadians.
sheesh.
He has a sweetness in his eyes. Hope he’s really a good person.
Ya soon we will be able to smoke pot on the street ! lol 🙂
based on how it is working in the states that legalized, i agree to the ya! but only because it frees up so much in court costs and brings in a ton of money.
The freeing up of court time alone will save millions, never mind what the taxes on it will generate!
As a certified dummy, I would like to know if there are any others – like myself – whose first thought when they saw the header pic was, “Oh. That must be Kevin Trudeau’s (the infamous author of “The 101 Things They Don’t Want You to Know About _______”) son.”