Global National: Aug. 15, 2021 | Canada’s election kicks off as Afghanistan faces Taliban takeover

After months of speculation in Ottawa, Justin Trudeau officially kicked off Canada’s 44th federal election during the 4th wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in hopes of securing a majority government for the Liberals. So how are the federal parties planning to win your vote? David Akin reports on the election kickoff, while Abigail Bimman and Mike Le Couteur look at the campaign strategies of the Conservatives and NDP. Trudeau is also already facing an international crisis on the first day of his election campaign, as Afghanistan’s government falls to the Taliban after weeks of fighting. Mercedes Stephenson looks at the situation for Canadians and other personnel trying to leave that country, and the potential impact on Canada’s election campaign. And Jennifer Johnson reports on how the crisis is being seen as the first major blunder of the Biden administration in the United States, as thousands of Afghans scramble to escape. In Haiti, more than a thousand people are now confirmed to ha