Liberal leader Justin Trudeau intended field in the NDP and voter Green today, warning darkly that a Conservative government would mean cutting spending, the lack of action on climate change and weak support for abortion services – and for reasons that sound liberal is the only way to prevent it,
“In the case of the NDP and Greens, remember this: If you want a progressive action, you need a progressive government, not the progressive opposition,” Trudeau said during a campaign stop in Fredericton.
“Voting Liberal is the only way to stop the cuts of the Conservatives. Liberals know that the way to grow the economy is to invest in people and we have the record to prove it.”
Questioned by reporters after his statement, Trudeau was asked bluntly if the current Liberal strategy is to encourage people away from the NDP and Green by whipping up fear among Canadians.
“We have been very positive in the approach we take and we will remain so,” he said. “I’m looking for a strong mandate to continue to invest in Canada and I will be sharp in the policy differences between us and the Conservatives.”
A warning about the consequences of the New Democratic votes or green has emerged as a major theme of public statements recently Trudeau, as the Liberals and Conservatives have fallen into deadlock voting. Over the weekend, Trudeau argued that the Stephen Harper government cut spending on culture and veterans and backed away from the action on climate change for the NDP and Bloc Québécois were strong at the time.
Today, Trudeau claims that the election of the Conservative government would return Canada to a time when wages are flat, job creation has stalled and “ambition was nowhere to be found.”
Access to abortion services
Asked about an abortion clinic in Fredericton was under threat of closure due to lack of funding, Trudeau said that if he is elected he will meet with the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Premier Blaine Higgs to discuss the province’s obligation to fund abortion clinics. He said he would use all the tools at the disposal of the government under the Canada Health Act.
“A Liberal government, a Liberal prime minister, will always stand up for the province who want to restrict women’s rights to vote, something the Conservatives, particularly under Andrew Scheer, will not do,” he said.
Trudeau also said he is the best position to push back against the conservative prime minister Jason Kenney such as Alberta and Ontario Doug Ford, “who do not want to act on climate change.”
During a campaign event in Toronto, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh asserted not only the choice for Canadians between the Liberals and the Conservatives.
‘Do not choose the fear’
“You are not stuck with two choices. Nobody has your voice. You are free to choose what you want. Do not choose the fear, the voice of hope,” he said.
In Quebec, the Conservative leader Andrew Scheer repeated his message that the Conservative majority is needed to prevent the Liberal-NDP coalition that would result in tax increases and runaway spending.
“Now there is a clear choice between our party and the coalition NDP-Liberal who will raise taxes, kill jobs, driving away investment, canceling large projects. I know Canadians do not want that to happen and that is why I am very optimistic for October 21,” he said,
Trudeau would not entertain the possibility of forming a coalition government with the NDP when asked about it repeatedly on the weekend. Instead, he says his focus is on the selection of Liberal progressive governments to stop the Conservative cuts.
Singh said Sunday that he would consider a coalition with the Liberals in a minority situation, but retreated from the idea that the next day, insists the focus is on getting as many New Democrat MPs elected as possible.
