vancouver:In another danger sign for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on Wednesday that his party plans to table a no-confidence motion against Trudeau’s Liberal government “as soon as possible.” This came after Trudeau suffered a major blow when Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party (NDP), a key ally that keeps his Liberal Party in power, unexpectedly withdrew its support for him in early September.
Jagmeet Singh’s surprise withdrawal from a confidence agreement with the ruling party left Trudeau dependent on the support of other opposition lawmakers to survive confidence votes in the lower house of parliament at a time when polls show he will lose badly if an election is held now. The election must be held before the end of October 2025 under Canadian law.
Poilievre called on NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to support the motion and call an election. “Jagmeet Singh claims he has broken the confidence agreement. That means he has to vote for a no-confidence motion. Or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said at a news conference in Ottawa. “For the NDP, it is time to do things or shut up.”
Jagmeet Singh’s response to Poilievre’s plan
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh declined to say whether his party would support the Conservatives. “I have said that in any vote we will look at the results and make a decision,” Singh said during a meeting of the party’s parliamentary caucus in Montreal. “We will make a decision on what is in the best interests of Canadians. Unlike Pierre Poilievre, who wants to play games, we really want to do things for Canadians.”
Trudeau, 52, took office in November 2015 but has struggled in the past two years to fend off attacks from the opposition’s centre-right Conservatives, who blame him for high inflation and the housing crisis. With the support of the NDP, his government has pushed through social programs designed to address the cost of living.
But Jagmeet Singh had expressed growing frustration with Trudeau in recent months, especially over what he said was the Liberals’ failure to deal with high supermarket prices. “Justin Trudeau has proven time and time again that he will always cave to corporate greed… The Liberals have misled the people; they don’t deserve another chance,” he said in a video address on Sept. 4, as he announced he would run for prime minister himself.
What will happen to Trudeau?
Under the 2022 confidence and supply agreement, the NDP agreed to keep Trudeau in power until mid-2025 in exchange for increased social spending. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre reiterated his call for an early election to break up what he called a Liberal-NDP coalition that is driving up prices for Canadians.
The House of Commons resumes on September 16, after which the Conservatives will be able to propose a vote of no confidence. The Liberals currently hold 154 seats in the 338-seat House of Commons. The Conservatives have 119 and the NDP 24. Trudeau’s Liberals could still survive if the NDP abstained in such a vote.
Yves-Francois Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, which has 32 seats in Parliament, has said his party is ready to support the government if the Liberals agree on issues such as greater support for seniors and granting Quebec more powers over immigration.
Trudeau is becoming deeply unpopular
Most polls show the Conservatives far ahead of the Liberals, with the NDP in third place. Trudeau is also very unpopular with many voters. Recently, Quebec Liberal MP Alexandra Mendes said that many of her constituents believe he should resign as party leader.
“In a democracy, people have all kinds of different perspectives and it’s important that we have them, including in the Liberal Party,” Trudeau said when asked about Mendes’ comments. “The reality is that we’re all focused on what to do to make sure that Canadians are supported and feel confident about the future.”
(with contributions from agencies)
READ ALSO | Canada: Justin Trudeau suffers a blow as key ally Jagmeet Singh’s NDP withdraws support
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