Elections in Canada: What Does a Liberal Minority Government Mean for Guelph? – Guelph | The Canadian News

As the dust settles after the 2021 federal election, Guelph Liberal Party incumbent Lloyd Longfield says he is ready to return to work after securing a third term in office.

With Longfield re-elected and another liberal minority government, the political situation provides a bit of continuity, but how will it all affect the Royal City?

Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic is the first item on the political veteran’s agenda.

Longfield said that includes working with local businesses through economic recovery and with community partners to address the long-term mental health challenges the crisis has brought on.

He added that he plans to go to Ottawa with the goal of working collaboratively with other parties.

“I think now that we’ve tested the electorate, they are saying, ‘We like to see a minority government, but you have to work together to solve these big problems,'” Longfield said.

“I hope that means that we will see a better atmosphere in Ottawa when we are trying to fix some of these problems.”

University of Guelph associate professor Tamara Small believes that a minority government could work better for municipalities.

He explained that majority governments and municipalities generally need to have similar agendas in order to collaborate.

But with liberals forced to work with other parties, it means there are more MPs to talk to for cities and their mayors.

“If you’re mayor and you don’t have a direct line to Lloyd Longfield, for example, you could have a direct line to a Conservative MP like Michael Chong, you could have a direct line to the new green member in Kitchener, or you could have a direct line with the NDP, ”Small said.

“There are more ways to make contact with someone who could then carry his agenda and who could have influence at any time.”

As for Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie, he just wants the Liberals to swiftly present their policies and mandates.

“Not only from the point of view of Guelph, but from all the municipalities. We really want to see them working hard together, not just across party lines, but also across different levels of government, ”Guthrie said.

“I hope that the parties will adopt a position similar to that of the municipal governments after the elections: it is time to put things aside and get to work, especially in a minority situation. I think there are common ground around the issues that we have that are necessary for Guelph, especially infrastructure, jobs, COVID recovery, etc. “

With another minority government, the possibility arises that other federal elections will be called at any time.

Guthrie weighed the possibility of having three elections next year with the Ontario General Election scheduled for June 2022 and municipal elections scheduled for later that year in October.

“Whatever happens at the federal or provincial level, that’s important, but I certainly hope that if there are not only provincial elections but also federal elections next year, there will be no fatigue for municipal elections because it really is such an important vote,” he said. Guthrie.