Stephen Harper resigns

from Conservative leadership after landslide loss

 

The tides have changed in Canada with Stephen Harper being forced out of the Prime Minister’s Office by Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party’s red wave across the country.

The Liberal Party has claimed a majority government, with the Conservatives forming the opposition and the NDP bumped down to third place. However, the 56-year-old was able to hold onto his Member of Parliament seat in the riding of Calgary Heritage.

“We gave everything we had to give and we had no regrets whatsoever,” said Harper. “The people of Canada have elected a Liberal government, a result we accept without hesitation. I congratulate him on his successful campaign, and I have assured him my full cooperation in the transition over the coming days.”

“Tonight, we have been able to elect a strong official opposition into Canada… The disappointment that you feel tonight is my responsibility and mine alone.”

Harper’s concession speech began before 10 p.m. MDT, which included highlights on some of his policies.

But in his speech, he did not mention that he will also be resigning from his position as the leader of the party, a decision that was confirmed in a released statement by John Walsh, President of the Conservative Party of Canada.

“I have spoken to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and he has instructed me to reach out to the newly elected parliamentary caucus to appoint an Interim Leader and to the National Council to implement the leadership selection process pursuant to the Conservative Party of Canada constitution,” reads the statement by Walsh.

Harper is the sixth longest serving Canadian Prime Minister in history. He was first sworn into office in February 6, 2006 after defeating Paul Martin’s Liberal minority government.

Nanaimo-Ladysmith
NDP candidate Sheila Malcolmson; elected

Sheila Malcolmson is an experienced local leader who is ready to deliver positive results as the next Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Ladysmith.

Sheila brings 12 years of constituency experience to the job, having been elected four times to local government. As Chair of the Islands Trust Council, she has worked with all levels of government, championing local campaigns for marine safety, oil spill prevention, and ferry service that works for coastal and island communities.

Before being elected, Sheila was an energy policy analyst for a number of non-governmental organizations where she opposed nuclear power expansion and advocated for ratepayers. She has also worked in small business, tourism and environmental advocacy on Vancouver Island.

Sheila has been a proud Nanaimo-Ladysmith resident for more than 20 years and now lives on Gabriola Island with her partner Howard, a fisheries biologist and climate change researcher.

As MP, she will bring people from different backgrounds together around a common cause: workers, small businesses, community groups, students, seniors and First Nations. As Islands Trustee, Sheila was honoured to sign a government-to-government protocol between the Snuneymuxw First Nation and the Islands Trust—establishing a relationship of respect and cooperation in planning, land use management and heritage conservation.

Sheila Malcolmson will build on the work of retiring NDP MP Jean Crowder—and get results on issues that matter to Vancouver Island families:

Justin Trudeau is Canada's new PM

Trudeau, to the prime minister's office and resoundingly ending Conservative Stephen Harper's near-decade in office.

Justin Trudeau, born on Dec. 25, 1971 son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, became Canada's new prime minister after his Liberal Party won a majority of Parliament's 338 seats. Trudeau's Liberals had been favored to win the most seats, but few expected the final margin of victory. One more "Trudeaumania."

Justin Trudeau, a former drama high school teacher and member of Parliament since 2008, becomes the second youngest prime minister in Canadian history.

Trudeau has re-energized the Liberal Party since its worst electoral defeat four years ago when they won just 34 seats and finished third behind the traditionally weaker New Democrat Party. Trudeau promises to raise taxes on the rich and run deficits for three years to boost government spending. His late father, who took office in 1968 and led Canada for most of the next 16 years, is a storied name in Canadian history, responsible for the country's version of the bill of rights.

"We have a chance to bring real change to Canada and bring an end to the Harper decade," Trudeau said Sunday in Harper's adopted home province of Alberta, traditionally a Conservative stronghold. Trudeau's opponents pilloried him as too inexperienced, but Trudeau embraced his boyish image on Election Day. Sporting jeans and a varsity letter jacket.

 

The Trudeau victory should ease tensions with the U.S. Although Trudeau supports the Keystone pipeline, he argues relations should not hinge on the project. On his first day as Canada`s leader Justin Trudeau told Obama he will pull out of air war against ISIL.

And Obama's OK with it. :)