The Liberal Party of Canada is the longest serving and oldest acting party in the country. It has held its position for 70 years of the 20th century and is known for supporting a broad spectrum of voters.
The Liberal Party first came into power in 1873 but was voted out five years later due to the economic crisis of the era. The party would not return until 1896, when Wilfrid Laurier became prime minister.
Since then, the Liberal party has had its falls and triumphs, being Canada’s ruling political party with the election of Justin Trudeau in 2015. On Jan. 6, Trudeau announced his resignation, stating that he will step aside as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal party once a new leader is elected.
What will a change in the Liberal party leadership mean for Canada?
“Generally, when a long-standing leader of a political party in Canada is replaced, there is a period of adjustment,” said Christopher Anderson, associate professor and chair of political science and north american studies at Laurier. “Often it takes a party some time to settle down and to redefine itself around its new leader — it may even take a few leaders to get there. This will be compounded by the degree of Trudeau’s unpopularity, which will for many translate into an unpopularity in terms of the party itself,” he said.
With the new and sudden changes to the government, many Canadians are left worrying about the impact of Trudeau’s resignation and how the trading relationships with other countries may ensue, “ultimately, that will probably be more a question of the timing and the outcome of the next federal election, and as well how the provinces and other actors in Canada and the U.S. mobilise,” Anderson said.
“There will be a lot of interchanges through the myriad connections within and between government actors in the US and Canada, at national and subnational levels,” he said.
The Liberal party has navigated a complex and often changing relationship with other political parties, such as the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Conservative Party of Canada through both collaboration and competition. For instance, in 2022 the Liberals formed an agreement with the NDP for key confidence support votes from the part to help advance policies such as dental care, Pharmacare and housing affordability.
Bardish Chagger, Waterloo’s Member of Parliament (MP), is acutely familiar with these complicated relationships.
When asked for comment, Chagger said, “Electing new governments is also part of our democratic process. I believe the focus must remain on the representation of Canadians and what is of importance to us. It’s clear that our relationship with other countries could be impacted but I believe Canada must remain true to our values and our fundamental principles as Canadians.”
With Trudeau leaving his position, Canada’s government is sure to evolve and grow in many ways.
“My hope will remain that the Liberal Party of Canada remains a progressive option,” Chagger said. “In my role as Member of Parliament for the riding of Waterloo, my focus and priority firmly remain on representing the diverse voices and perspectives of my constituents.”
Contributed Photo/CityNews on Youtube
