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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2015-10-28, Page 44 News Record • Wednesday, October 28, 2015 www.clintonnewsrecord.com NewsCl Record PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 53 Albert St. P.O. 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Ad- vertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at anytime. The Clinton News -Record is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing purposes. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 53 Albert St., Clinton ON NOM 1L0 (519) 482-3443 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Canada ///�� Member of the Canadian Community pCna Newspaper Association and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association editorial Trudeau's relentless ability to overcome obstacles ended in majority government The last time a federal party carne from third place to win govemmentwas in 1925. It lasted only three days, the shortest in Canadian history. Justin Trudeau's surprise majority Lib- eral government will bewith us for at least four years. None of this seemed likely in early August. The relentless "He's not ready" Tory attack ads seemed to be having the desired effect. Com- mentators cautioned about 43 -year-old Trudeau's lack of gravitas, his proneness for mak- ing aking gaffes in unscripted moments and his questionable support of Bill C-51. The Liberals' early platform was lacklustre and hard to distin- guish from that of the NDP. Trudeau, a mediocre debater in Parliament, was facing a series of televised debates pitted against two seasoned perform- ers. His positive, nice -guy approach telegraphed weakness in the face of the take -no -prison- ers styles of the Conservatives' Stephen Harper and the NDP's Thomas Mulcair. At the start of the campaign the Liberals were polling eight points behind the NDP and five points behind the Conservatives. Many poll respondents felt that Harper and Mulcair would make better economic managers, noting Trudeau has never run anything. To his credit, Trudeau over- came a host of obstacles. For someone thought to lack management experience, Trudeau and his team had done a remarkable job behind the scenes of transforming the Liberal party from an empty shell into awell- financed political machine. The membership and volunteer base grew rapidly as Trudeau created a strong sense of shared purpose within his party. Trudeau went into the five debates with low voter expecta- tions. He was aggressive but respectful. He knew the issues and showed he could deliver and take a punch. Harper soon stopped calling him "Justin:' Thomas Mulcair, sensing Trudeau momentum, stepped up his attacks on the Liberal as the debates progressed. Yet Trudeau emerged as a con- tender to be reckoned with. His adopted role as an agent of social, economic and institu- tional change resonated with a broad base of Harper-wearyvot- ers. After a decade of Harper's controlling, ideologically -driven and divisive politics, Trudeau's more generous, open and engag- ing style was awelcome change for millions of voters. Mulcair brought some of that same relief, but `Angry Tom" lacks the same natural warmth. The Conservatives ran their "He's not ready" attack ads for nearly a year before the election. The ads registered with voters who shared the same concem. But once the campaign got into full swing, Trudeau's powerful, gaffe -free performance blunted their effectiveness. As a result, the Tory ads may have backfired. The media developed a new respect for Trudeau as the cam- paign unfolded. It was evident in the flattering profiles, wide- spread coverage and early endorsements. Two weeks before the election La Presse, Quebec's largest news- paper, endorsed Trudeau's Lib- erals saying, `After 10 years of a destructive government that runs on petty- and narrow- mindedness, Canada needs a govemment rooted in intelli- gence, dialogue and optimism. That's why La Presse hopes for the election of Justin Trudeau and the Liberal parry." (Transla- tion). La Presse had not endorsed a federal party since 2006. Trudeau was able to attract and energize 7,000 supporters at a Brampton rally in the final days of the campaign. None of the other parties risked showcasing their leaders in this way. Trudeau connected with people in an optimistic and visceral fashion, something that eluded both Harper and Mulcair. At the end of the campaign, the Liberals seemed to have a modest lead. It looked like a Lib- eral minority government. No one thought Trudeau was capa- ble of adding 150 new seats -- from 34 to 184 -- in one election cycle. The Liberals stole votes from both the Conservatives and NDP right across the country. Trudeau had outflanked his opposition with an economic plan that incurs small deficits for three years to stimulate the economy with massive investments in infrastructure. Mulcair promised Harper -style surplus budgets, but the electorate felt the sluggish economy called for more, not less, government intervention. In the dying days of the cam- paign, in an act of desperation, Harper tried to use the remnants of the Ford Nation to boost his chances in vote -rich Toronto. The rally drew a disappointing number of Ford fans. It prompted Trudeau to ask voters what values they thought Harper was supporting by aligning himself with the dis- graced former mayor. The Lib- erals went on to win every seat in the city and gained a total of 40 seats across the Greater Toronto Area. Some will argue that the elec- tionwas more about getting rid of Harper than it was about enthusiasm for Trudeau. They point out the Liberals were lead- ing toward the end of the cam- paign and that encouraged vot- ers oters to see them, rather than the NDP, as the party best positioned to oust Harper. Ifthat were the case, a Liberal minoritywould have sufficed. This assessment ignores the extent of Trudeau's stunning, come -from -behind victory. Harper won his majority govem- ment in 2011 with 166 seats. Trudeau's personal appeal and steady growth during the elec- tion yielded him 184 seats and a presence in every part of the country. Now the heavy lifting begins. Canadians will soon see how much substance and judgment the son of one of Canada's most famous politicians will bring to an in -basket overflowing with promises and challenges. - Postmedia Network LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The News Record welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include a daytime phone number for verification purposes. 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