Trudeau tumbles, Stanfield gains

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 17

Trudeau tumbles, Stanfield gains

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter—Copyright)

OTTAWA, October 31.

A subdued Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Pierre Trudeau, is pondering his Liberal Government’s future today, after the closest General Election result in the country’s history.

Early today, Mr Trudeau’s Liberal Party had won only 108 of the 264 seats in the House of Commons, and the Opposition Progressive Conservative Party, 107.

The balance of power lay in the hands of the Socialist New Democratic Party, which captured 30 seats and was leading in the only two still undecided. The other minority party, the Right-wing Social Credit Party, won 15 seats, and two Independents were elected.

Mr Trudeau said in Ottawa early today that he would wait until later in the day before deciding the future of his Government.

The Progressive Conservatives’ leader, Mr Robert Stanfield, said at his headquarters in the east coast city of Halifax: “I want to assure the people that we are prepared to form a government, but I think that we should wait and see what the morning brings.” Tire New Democrats’ leader, Mr David Lewis, said in Toronto that he would have no part in a coalition with another party, but that the New Democrats would support any minority government which dealt with Canada’s problems of unemployment and high cost of living. He alleged Government favouritism towards big business. Mr Trudeau has lost four of his Cabinet Ministers: Mr Jean-Luc Pepin (trade and industry), Mr Martin O’Connell (labour), Mr Bud Olson (agriculture), and Mr Patrick Mahoney (Minister of State). Whether the Liberals or the Conservatives form the Government, the prospects are that another election will be called soon in an attempt to

give one party a workable edge with which to govern.

A minority government with even 130 seats faces the constant threat of being deposed by a no-confidence vote in the Commons, and a government controlling fewer than 115 seats has little chance of survival. The confusion could last for weeks, while the results are sifted. Recounts are

certain in a number of dis tricts.

Mr Trudeau’s “swinging bachelor” image, and his vivid personality, swept the Liberals to victory in June, 1968, when they won 155 seats, compared with the Conservatives’ 72. Bread-and-butter issues dominated the campaign leading to yesterday's election, and the Government’s economic record apparently weighed against it.

Opposition parties had attacked the country’s inflation and heavy unemployment, and many voters had . criticised Government welfare payments on the ground ithat these were being mis;used.

i The main Conservative [gains yesterday came in the , populous eastern industrial [province of Ontario, where the party won 41 seats and the Liberals dropped to 35 from 64 in 1968.

The Liberals made marg-j inal gains in the Atlantic [ provinces, but lost further i seats to the Conservatives in! the agricultural west. In 1968, the Liberals won 155 seats; the Conservatives. I 72; the New Democrats. 25; I the Social Credit Party, 14; and Independents, one.