By Alan Buchanan ,

After an election campaign which managed to ease the Md-winter"doldrumsV5 the electorate decided to treat themselves to that rare Canadian dish- a majority government. The swing to Pierre Trudeau and the Liberals, started in Newfoundland, held through the Maritimes, and gained momentum in Quebec and Ontario, before it ground to a halt in Manitoba.

Quebec, a traditional Liberal stronghold, went ovenuhelmingly in favour of Trudeau, electing Liberals in all but one riding, completely destroying the Creditiste and defeating PC Cabinet Minister Heward ‘ Maffteyz But it was in Ontario where the Liberals made weir most substantial gains, gaining 22 seats for a wtal of 54. The PC's, who previouSly held 57 Ontario wats were reducad to 35, and the NDP managed to hang on to their total of 6.- in the Atlantic Provinces the Hberals made moderate gains, capturing 5 seats from the PC's, and managing to wrestle 2 away from the NDP.

m Newfoundland, Cabinet Ministers John Crosbie and James'McGrafh ,held on to their seats, but NDP man

Fonse Faour went down to defeat at the hands of the Uberals. in Nova Scotia, Liberals Gerald Regan and CMleenCampbell upseated Tory incumbents George Cooper and Charles Haliburton, but the big surpriSe was Liberal Dave Dingwell's victory over long-time NDP member from Cape Breton, Father Andy Hogan. In New Brunswick, Liberals increased their total to 7 from the 6 seats they held at the dissolution of the last Parliament in ' December. ‘

PEI gave Mr. Clark the first real indication that his Party was in danger with the defeat of Secretary'of State David MacDonald in Egmont. The well liked and highly respected MacDonald, who had held the seat for l5 years, was soundly thrashed by former Provincial Fisheries Minister George-Henderson.' Although many political _ Pundits had predicted a close race in Egmont, few expected a Liberal win, and even fewer expected Henderson to win With such a convincing majority (over l600 votes). Several factors, however, can be attributed to the downfall of MacDonald: the 18¢ per gallon exise tax on gasoline; the leadership of Joe Clark; and the PC fisheries policy. It has also been suggested that the PC team in Summerside was only half-hearted in their SuPport of MacDonald this time, following a controversy °Ver the appointment of the new Lieutenant Governor. Apparently a prominent PC supporter and organizer felt he had been overlooked by the party when they made their selection. ' ’

In Malpeque, PC inCumbent Mel Gass was returned, but With a reduced majority. Gass,.who took the seat from Llberal Don Wood in the May '79 election, was opposed bV his former advertising manager Dave Peppin, and NDP Candidate Vic Arsenault. Although Peppin showed a gain over Wood's '79/vote, he_set the stage for his own

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PIERRE TRUDEAU SURGES To POWER WHlLE JOE CLARK siNGs THE TORYF

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'1980‘

political demise at his nominating convention where he delivered a soathing attack of Mel Gass which fell only slightly short of libel. Clearly Gass's strongest opposition came from his own party policies. Here again the l8¢ budget, the fisheries policy, and the perceived ineptness Of Joe Clark took their toll.

In Hillsborough, voters chose incumbent Tom McMillan despite a strong bid by Liberal Gerry Birt. McMillan

came dangerously close to losing control as his majority .

was pared from over 3,000 to less than 600 by the political newcomer Birt. third, gaining slightly over l200 votes, and although this total is down slightly from last year, Crockett should not be disheartened considering the strong traditional voting patterns of the province.

The Cardigan riding proved another turn-around. A re-juvenated Dan MacDonald, the former Minister of Veterans Affairs, came back to avenge his May 22 defeat by bettering PC incumbent Wilbur MacDonald by more than 500 votes. In a largely fishing and farming district, Dan MacDonald made full use of the unpOpular PC budget and fisheries policy in regaining his old seat. It is possible that he was aided in his attempt by the NDP candidate Aubrey Cantelo , a former Tory supporter who polled over l,OOO votes, some of which would have undoubtedly gone to PC Wilbur MacDonald.

With the election over and a Liberal majority guaranteed, Trudeau's job now is to formulate a cabinet to carry on the job of governing. Trudeau has some old faces and some new faces from the Atlantic region that he must put into cabinet positions. Veteran Allan J. MaCEaChen from Cape BretOn, the llold man” of Maritime politics, could very well be sitting in his old office as Minister of External Affairs.

'Romeo LeBlanc is almost guaranteed his old position as

Minister of Fisheries. Look for Dan MacDonald back at his desk to finish off the job of moving DVA to Charlottetown, and don't be surprised if Gerald Regan becomes the new minister responsible for DREE. Although George Henderson is new to federal politics, the I‘giant killer” must be rewarded; he‘ll be the new Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries.

Just to round off my inventory of predictions: Lloyd Axworthy will become the next leader of the Liberals; Joe Clark will be scrapped; David MacDonald will run (and win) in 2nd Prince; David MacDonald will be the next leader of the provincial PC's; Wilbur MacDonald will run in hth Queens after Angus MacLean or Dan Compton retires; Gerry Birt will get a new job as co-Ordinator of DVA's move to Charlottetown; a Liberal Senator from the West will be appointed to cabinet; the Liberal government will introduce a budget similar in kind to that of John Crosbie; and Kathryn Schmidt will continue her assault of the rich with renewed vigor.

Bob Crockett ran a respectable 5