Following the federal election on October 21, Justin Trudeau returns to the House of Commons as Prime Minister while losing the popular vote. Canada’s first past the post electoral system got his party across the finish line with 157 seats, but it was the Conservatives, entering parliament with 121 seats, who actually won the popular vote.
The Conservative Party performed well in Western Canada, while the Liberals held on to all 21 seats in Toronto after their wins in Ontario – helping them win a minority government. The secessionist Bloc Quebecois saw a resurgence in Quebec, and British Columbia elected the three largest parties a stay in its province.
Riddled with controversies, Trudeau attempted to remain afloat as pictures of his multiple blackface incidences came to light – while the media fixated on Andrew Scheer’s American citizenship and Elizabeth May’s disposable cup. But behind this media spectacle, the election notably failed to address the real concerns facing voters.
