The Fall of Liberal St. Pauls

Liberals Lose 30 Year Stronghold

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Early this morning, around 4:00 am, results from the St. Paul's by-election in Toronto came in. Conservatives won. But more importantly, the Liberals lost. This was a riding held by Liberals since 1993. Conservatives had about 42% in the riding in which Liberals have won by a wide margin since Jean Chrétien took over the party.

It is unclear what is next for Justin Trudeau. The loss of this riding will prove difficult for them. The Middle Ground expects that only with a matter of time the Liberals will turn against their leader. The Prime Minister is polling very low, and nearly two-thirds of Canadians want change. Pictures taken by the Middle Ground outside the Liberals' campaign office in St. Paul's show that ‘Trudeau protesters’ were present on election day.

This riding was supposed to be a demonstration of the Liberals' strength. However, many pollsters were wrong about their prediction. Most political analysts predicted that the Liberals would win. However, the loss of this riding will cause them to bleed seats in the next election. The Middle Ground expects that the Prime Minister will either resign in the summer or call an election. Some speculation of changing key cabinet members has risen. However, it may prove too late now.

In a recent interview with the Middle Ground, The Hon. Tony Clement, former Ontario and Federal Cabinet Minister, when asked what he thought about the hatred of the Prime Minister, he spoke along the lines, hatred for a PM is not something new. Mulroney was a subject of this towards the end of his term, as was Justin Trudeau’s father, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Many Prime Ministers face hatred. However, today it seems more organized because the rise of social media has allowed people to connect easily and organize protests more readily.