Canada PM Justin Trudeau ‘to call snap election’, seeking approval for coronavirus response
- Insiders say the prime minister is set to announce a September 20 vote
- Trudeau currently has only a minority government and relies on other parties to push through legislation
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is planning a snap election for September 20 to seek voter approval for the government’s costly plans to combat Covid-19, four sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
Trudeau is set to make the announcement on Sunday, said the sources, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation. Trudeau aides have said for months that the ruling Liberals would push for a vote before the end of 2021, two years ahead of schedule.
Trudeau has only a minority government and relies on other parties to push through legislation. In recent months he has complained about what he calls opposition obstruction.
The Liberals racked up record levels of debt as they spent heavily to shield individuals and businesses from Covid-19. They plan to inject an extra C$100 billion (US$80 billion) – between 3 per cent and 4 per cent of GDP – into the economy over the next three years.
Trudeau came to power in 2015 with a majority of the 338 seats in the House of Commons, but in 2019 he was reduced to a minority after old photos emerged of him wearing brownface.