Like Obama, Trudeau is No Progressive Political Saviour

For progressives, Monday had a very familiar feel to it.

An election victory signaled the end of a lengthy time of either inept or contemptuous conservative rule, depending on who you ask.

The outgoing candidate was reviled as a divisive force loved by a few and hated by many more.

The winning candidate was youthful, energetic, and eloquent, and represented a party coming back from years wandering in the desert.

In short, Justin Trudeau’s victory on Monday felt a lot like Barack Obama’s win in 2008.

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Where Obama’s buzzword was ‘hope,’ Trudeau’s were ‘real change.’

Much like 2008, however, we’re about to find out that expectations set unrealistically high will never be met.

Obama was viewed as a genuine political saviour and nothing less, someone who would lead his nation into a new era of co-operation and understanding.

The same expectations are being placed on Justin Trudeau’s shoulders, and if Obama’s experience has taught us anything, they’re not fair.

In the United States, a president has a whole forest of red tape and roadblocks to deal with in order to get legislation passed.

It’s much tougher if the other two branches of government are not co-operating.

Here in Canada it could be a little easier – but not much.

Just ask Stephen Harper, who had law after law struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Justin Trudeau is safe for one majority term before the next election cycle and he will be fortunate to make just a handful of really significant changes before his term is up.

No one should get their hopes up that his reign will usher in a progressive utopia.

But at this point, a simple fresh start with a new leader and a new group of people will be a good start.