2015 Federal Election

[ookpik]

Because it would be the right thing to do?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Book_(...n_promises

"The most notable of these was the Goods and Services Tax, which the Liberals had promised to replace but did not."


This is grossly misleading. The Red Book acrtually promised, "A Liberal government will replace the GST with a system that generates equivalent revenues, is fairer to consumers and to small business, minimizes disruption to small business, and promotes federal-provincial fiscal co-operation and harmonization." 

IOW they proposed to replace (substitute, not repeal) the GST with what most people would call an HST. They did that in Atlantic Canada but were rebuffed by the provinces elsewhere. The opposition of the day, the Reform Party, was also against an HST. It was only when Harper became PM that Flaherty managed to convince him of the need for an HST and was able to get more provinces on board.

Admittedly there are other examples of Liberal governments who reneged on their promises, just as there are of Conservative governments who did likewise. Sometimes it even makes sense. Circumstances change, e.g. an economy goes into recession. As Keynes famously said "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"

But that said, I share the concern that with a solid majority based on 40% of the popular vote, young Trudeau will be hard pressed to follow through on electoral reform in the House. I'm more optimistic about the Senate, where the Liberals need a majority in order to enact legislation. There are also the matters of (1) "Liberal" senators no longer in caucus and (2) the 22 vacant seats (out of 105), (3) the determination of the Duffy trial and (4) the results of other investigations into malfeasance by the likes of Wallin, Brazeau et al.