The environment proved to be a critical issue in Monday害羞草研究所檚 election, and the Liberals害羞草研究所� compromise didn害羞草研究所檛 score them many votes on either side of the issue.
Climate change was polling as the No. 1 issue among voters prior to Oct. 21 vote, but one Simon Fraser University professor said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to play both sides, and lost.
害羞草研究所淭hey tried to provide what they would view as a compromise 害羞草研究所� trying to build a pipeline and at the same time doing their carbon tax,害羞草研究所� said Tom Gunton of SFU害羞草研究所檚 Resource and Environmental Planning Program.
But their 害羞草研究所渋nconsistent message害羞草研究所� didn害羞草研究所檛 sit well with those worried for the climate, Gunton said.
害羞草研究所淚t was very difficult for them to portray themselves as defenders of the climate, while at the same time people would just point out 害羞草研究所榃ell, you just bought an oil pipeline.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
It especially didn害羞草研究所檛 help them in the Prairies, he pointed out, as they were completely shut out of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and suffered losses in Quebec, where the Bloc Qu茅b茅cois jumped to 32 seats from just 10.
害羞草研究所淥pposition to pipelines is high in Quebec,害羞草研究所� Gunton said. 害羞草研究所淭hat was a liability for the Liberals.害羞草研究所�
Overall, Trudeau hung onto 157 of 184 seats, but was downgraded to a minority government, while Andrew Scheer害羞草研究所檚 Conservatives jumped from 99 seats to 121 and actually won the popular vote.
The Liberals tried play the middle when it came to climate change, while other parties had a clearer goal.
The Conservatives, Gunton said, tried to keep Alberta and Saskatchewan happy by supporting pipelines, but lost in places like Ontario and Quebec.
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Gunton said the results paint a divided picture of Canada, with the Prairies and B.C.害羞草研究所檚 interior coloured a Tory blue, while more climate change-focused parties scooped up the rest of the country.
The NDP, which nearly halved their ridings to just 24 this election, could play a more significant role than their seat count suggests, he added, because of the minority result. Together, the Liberals, NDP and Greens have 184 seats 害羞草研究所� a significant majority.
害羞草研究所淭here will certainly be some concessions.害羞草研究所�
As for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, Gunton said it害羞草研究所檚 hard to tell if politics or economics will hold it back the most.
害羞草研究所淭he costs of building it has doubled,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淵ou add to that the political dimension, as the Liberal government does not have a majority, and the parties it depends on for support are clearly opposed to Trans Mountain.害羞草研究所�
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