A year after election, reach exceeds grasp for Liberals but polls still strong
OTTAWA — It’s been a year since Canadian voters took a leap of faith, placing a bet on deficit-financed government ambition after two decades of cuts, caution and small-c conservatism.
“Canadians have spoken,” Justin Trudeau said late in the evening last Oct. 19 after a federal election that swept his third-place Liberals to office with a comfortable 15-seat majority.
“You want a government with a vision and an agenda for this country that is positive and ambitious and hopeful. Well, my friends, I promise you tonight that I will lead that government. I will make that vision a reality.”
Twelve months later, the Liberals remain ambitious and hopeful, even if their reach exceeds their grasp.