CDNPOLI: Will there be a Spring Election?

It’s said minority parliaments last, on average, about 18 months before voters are called back to the ballot box. We are rapidly approaching 18 months since the Liberals won a minority election. Is it time to head back to the polls? It was October 2019 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Grits won 157 seats and a minority government. Little did anyone know that a global pandemic would grip the planet not long afterwards. Since then, the federal budget has ballooned while the government tries to keep people afloat during the lockdowns. There have been rumblings about the want for an election. And, now with a Budget to come on April 17th, the vote on it will be a confidence vote which could bring down the government. On the Unpublished Cafe this week, we’ll take a look at the prospect of a federal election call with Lori Williams, Associate Professor and Student Advisor Department of Economics Justice and Policy Studies Mount Royal University. As well, Stephanie Plante at the Centre for Security, Intelligence and Defence Studies at Carleton University will join us. And, leading us off is Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. Our Unpublished.vote question this week: Do you want a federal election this Spring? Log on at Unpublished.vote to voice your opinion and email your MP to tell them why you think what you do. References: https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/under-25-of-canadians-ready-to-vote-by-mail-in-a-federal-election-survey-shows https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/amid-building-election-speculation-liberals-35-pad-lead-over-conservatives-28 https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/no-need-for-spring-federal-election-573692972.html https://angusreid.org/federal-politics-conservative-leadership/ https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/regional-perspectives/david-johnson-federal-election-in-2021-a-sure-thing-556168/ https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2021/02/14/heres-why-canadians-wont-be-going-to-the-polls-before-they-get-their-covid-19-vaccinations.html https://www.politico.com/newsletters/corridors/2021/02/10/has-the-moment-passed-for-a-spring-election-793296 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-12/trudeau-s-cabinet-shuffle-signals-possible-election-this-year https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/don-martin-despite-his-denials-trudeau-seems-to-be-budgeting-for-a-spring-election-1.5360910 https://www.680news.com/2021/01/13/federal-election-date-likely-tied-to-covid-19-vaccine-rollout/ https://www.cp24.com/news/unanimous-committee-report-calls-on-trudeau-not-to-trigger-election-during-pandemic-1.5331268?cache=.%3FclipId%3D68596%3FclipId%3D375756 https://www.hilltimes.com/2020/12/14/next-election-a-referendum-on-trudeaus-handling-of-covid-19-and-a-competition-which-party-has-the-most-compelling-blueprint-for-the-future-say-politicos/275711 https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/conservative-vote-softens-29-3-liberals-36-1-extend-lead-2021