Justin Trudeau Elected New Liberal Leader

Ottawa (Canadian Press) - Justin Trudeau has been elected to lead the federal Liberal party in a resounding first-ballot win on April 14 at the Liberal Leadership Convention held in Ottawa. Trudeau, eldest son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, swept 80% of the vote in a final field of six candidates.

The outcome was widely seen as a foregone conclusion since Trudeau launched his campaign last October. Now, the Liberals are hoping that the Party’s undisputed star will be able to re-establish their reputation as the country’s natural governing party.

Just the prospect of Trudeau’s victory was able to boost the Liberals, reduced to a third-place in 2011, back into contention in public opinion polls. They are now running even with or ahead of the ruling Conservatives. The NDP has been relegated to its traditional third place slot after vaulting into official Opposition status in 2011 for the first time in its history.

NP - The 41-year-old Montrealer is MP for Papineau and attended and spoke at the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada and Affiliated Organizations 36^th National Convention, held in Montreal at the Delta Hotel on October 22-24, 2010.