Word: trudeau
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...four years Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau ruled Canada's 28th Parliament with the confident, almost imperious air of a ringmaster. But as he faced a new Parliament last week, with his Liberal Party stripped of its fat majority by the October election, Trudeau was tiptoeing on a tightrope. Waiting in the wings, eager to bump him off his perch and form a new government, stood the Progressive Conservative Party, which has only two fewer seats than Trudeau's Liberals. Trudeau is still aloft, and could remain there for months-or he could topple in a matter...
...Trudeau's fate, in short, is at the mercy of Canada's socialist-minded New Democratic Party. The October election reduced the Liberal representation in the 264-member House of Commons from 146 to 109. The Progressive Conservative Party won 107 seats, the Quebec-based populist Social Credit Party took 15, and independents have two. The remaining 31 seats-and the balance of power-belong to the N.D.P., led by shrewd former Labor Lawyer David Lewis. As long as the N.D.P. supports Trudeau on key votes, his government will survive and another election will be delayed...
...time being, at least, the N.D.P. seems prepared to back Trudeau. Never rich in funds, the N.D.P. is not eager to finance another election campaign at present. Indeed, according to an N.D.P. survey, the voters themselves oppose another campaign just now. Moreover, with little chance of winning the next election, the N.D.P. may be able to achieve some of its legislative goals by forcing concessions from the friend-in-need Liberals...
...Trudeau encouraged that prospect with his list of legislative intentions, which is traditionally presented at the opening of Parliament. More comprehensive than usual and reflecting a certain contriteness toward an electorate that had chastised him in October, the list included several social welfare programs (such as increased old-age pensions) that have been championed by the New Democrats. Thus Lewis found it relatively easy to pledge his support for the government until he sees how Trudeau follows through on the proposals. Exulted Liberal Strategist Allan MacEachen: "We've been given a real chance to stay on. Only an accident...
...Liberals a vital vote and thus force the government's resignation. A mismanaged Liberal proposal might make it impossible for the N.D.P. to avoid voting with the Tories; a surprise maneuver by the Tories could catch the government short of members when an important vote was called; a Trudeau temper tantrum might shift the mood of the House against...