Canada Elects Young New PM in 'Stunning' Upset

Justin Trudeau ousts Stephen Harper
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 20, 2015 12:19 AM CDT
Updated Oct 20, 2015 6:36 AM CDT
Canada Has a New Leader
Conservative leader Stephen Harper pauses while addressing supporters at an election night gathering in Calgary, Alberta, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2015.    (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadians voted for a sharp change in their government Monday, returning a legendary name for Liberals, Trudeau, to the prime minister's office and resoundingly ending Stephen Harper's near-decade in office. Justin Trudeau, the 43-year-old 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. Harper is stepping down as his party's leader. "We beat fear with hope," Trudeau said. "We beat cynicism with hard work. We beat negative, divisive politics with a positive vision that brings Canadians together." Canada shifted to the center-right under Harper, who lowered sales and corporate taxes, avoided climate change legislation, and strongly supported the oil and gas extraction industry. Among other things, Trudeau has pledged to legalize marijuana.

There's a definite theme in coverage:

  • The AP: "The victory in Monday's election by Trudeau's Liberal Party was stunning."
  • New York Times: "The nine-year reign of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party came to a sudden and stunning end ..."
  • CBC: "Justin Trudeau will be Canada's next prime minister after leading the Liberal Party to a stunning majority government win ..."
  • Toronto Globe and Mail: "In a stunning political comeback propelled by a national desire for change, Justin Trudeau ..."
  • Toronto Star: "It’s a stunning rebound for a party that had been knocked down to 34 seats in the 2011 election and left for dead."
(More Justin Trudeau stories.)

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