In a shocking upset that is a likely harbinger of the next Canadian national election, Conservative candidate Don Stewart won the longtime Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul’s.
Shock Byelection
CBC reports Conservatives Win longtime Liberal Stronghold Toronto-St. Paul’s in Shock Byelection Result.
Stewart’s victory is shocking because the seat has been held by the Liberals for more than 30 years — even through the party’s past low points, such as the 2011 federal election that returned just 34 Liberal MPs to Parliament.
Before Monday’s vote, a Conservative candidate hadn’t been competitive in Toronto–St. Paul’s since the 1980s. The party hadn’t won a seat in urban Toronto since the 2011 federal election.
The Liberals’ poor showing in a stronghold like this could prompt some soul-searching for Trudeau, who has seen his popularity plummet as inflation, the cost of living crisis, high home prices and surging immigration levels drive voter discontent.
This Conservative upset is likely to lead to some anxiety in the Liberal caucus because such a dramatic vote swing could put other supposedly “safe” seats in play for the Conservatives in the next general election.
Trudeau’s main rival, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, urged the prime minister to call an early election in a social media post Tuesday morning.
Voters in the riding told CBC News throughout the campaign that the government’s handling of the housing crisis, inflation and the Israel-Hamas conflict were sore spots.
Congratulations
Carbon Tax Election
“Congratulations to Common Sense Conservative candidate, @donstewartTO, on a shocking upset in Toronto-St. Paul’s, where people voted to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime. Here is the verdict: Trudeau can’t go on like this. He must call a carbon tax election now.“
As in Europe, Canadians are upset about nonsense carbon policy.
Trudeau is Finished
Also consider After St. Paul’s, is there anything Trudeau can say or do to save his leadership?
In the wake of the Liberals’ shock loss in a previously safe riding in Toronto, it’s fair to ask if there’s anything Trudeau could possibly say at this point that would get a hearing — or if too many Canadians have simply decided they’re done listening to him.
Trudeau’s stated theory about his current situation rests on a belief that voters will feel differently by the time the next election arrives, or that they’ll change their minds when it comes time to make a real choice.
“Canadians are not in a decision mode right now,” he told CBC’s Power & Politics during an interview last week. “What you tell a pollster — if they ever manage to reach you — is very different from the choice Canadians end up making in an election campaign.”
When Abacus Data surveyed Canadians in May about what a government led by Pierre Poilievre should or shouldn’t do, just 28 per cent of respondents said it should “definitely” or “probably” repeal the Liberal government’s national childcare program.
Sixty-three per cent of respondents did say a Poilievre government should eliminate the federal carbon tax.
“This was obviously not the result we wanted,” Trudeau said on Tuesday. “But I want to be clear that I hear people’s concerns and frustrations. These are not easy times and it’s clear that I and my entire Liberal team have much more work to do to deliver tangible real progress that Canadians across the country can see and feel.”
Hoot of the Day
“I hear your concerns”. Yeah right.
Let’s finish the sentence properly: “I hear your concerns, but I am not going to do a thing about them. If anything, I will raise carbon taxes.”
Globally, people are fed up with woke madness and green taxes.
Conservative Goals
The Conservatives have announced four goals according to Reuters: Axing a carbon tax introduced by the Liberals, addressing the government’s budget deficit, tackling a housing crisis and combating crime.
The next federal election must be held by end-October 2025 and a range of polls show the Liberals, who have been in power since November 2015, would lose badly to the Conservatives.
David Coletto of the Abacus Data polling firm said if the swing to the Conservatives were replicated across Ontario, the most populous province, the Liberals could be reduced to just a handful of seats.
Trudeau is history. Good riddance.
The Rise of the Farmer’s Daughter and Another Green Energy Revolt
On January 26, I discussed The Rise of the Farmer’s Daughter and Another Green Energy Revolt
Yet another farm protest in the EU has farmer’s spraying “merde” on the streets of France. Green energy regulations are at the heart of the protest.
Marine Le Pen Set for Record Win, Macron Calls Snap French Election
In France , Macron and the Greens were hammered so hard in the European parliament elections that Macron Calls Snap French Election
The French President and the German Chancellor both suffered record defeats in the European Parliament election. Macron calls a surprise parliamentary election after defeat.
Winners and Losers
Winners: The Far Right
Losers: Renew Europe (Macron), and the Greens.
If Trump wins in November, which I consider odds on, Green madness will get trounced in the US as well.
And no matter how you feel about it, Sorry Green Energy Fans, Net Zero Is a Very Unlikely Outcome