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Jagmeet-led NDP bails minority Liberal government through 2nd no-confidence
Last month, the NDP ended a supply-and-confidence agreement that had stabilized the minority government for more than two years.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the left-leaning opposition New Democrats, speaks to reporters about why he suddenly pulled his support for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, weakening the Canadian leader's position and sparking talk of an early election, in Toronto, Canada September 5, 2024. / REUTERS/Carlos Osorio
In less than a month after tearing its supply and confidence agreement with the ruling Liberal party, Jagmeet Singh-led New Democratic Party and Bloc Quebecois have bailed the Justin Trudeau Government through its second successive no-confidence motion. The motion was defeated 207-121.
Incidentally, Liberals have the largest representation of MPs of Indian descent, while the NDP leader, Jagmeet Singh, belongs to the Indian Diaspora. He is the only NDP MP of Indian descent in the present House.
After tearing the supply and confidence agreement on September 5, Jagmeet Singh had declared himself a prime ministerial candidate maintaining that the next election would be a direct contest between the NDP and the Conservatives as the Liberals were too weak to stop Conservatives.
The main opposition party, the Conservatives, which wants the present government to go, is also well represented by Members of Indian descent.
Even after the defeat of the no-trust motion brought in by the main opposition Party, the Conservatives, the threat continues to loom large over the minority Liberal Government.
The Bloc Quebecois has already served an ultimatum on the Liberals to concede two of its demands, including extending higher pensions to senior citizens belonging to the 65-74 age group, by Oct. 29 failing which it would side with the Conservatives as and when they bring in the next no-confidence motion.
After surviving a second non-confidence vote in as many weeks, the Liberal government has put at bay again the possibility of the country being plunged into an immediate election campaign.
Members of Parliament voted on a Conservative motion this afternoon that called for them to declare they have lost faith in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his nine-year-old government.
The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois voted against the motion, as they did with a similar motion last week.
Last month, the NDP ended a supply-and-confidence agreement that had stabilized the minority government for more than two years.
Earlier in the day, the Bloc forced a debate in the House of Commons about increasing old-age security payments for all seniors, something that the party says is key to earning its support.
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet has given the government until October 29 to green-light the pension bill, which is estimated to cost about $16 billion over five years.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that he would continue to work for the Canadians while the Conservatives and NDP were playing politics. Trudeau survived a second parliamentary confidence motion in less than a week after opposition parties vowed to keep his minority Liberal government alive for now.
The Conservatives, who have a big lead in the polls ahead of an election that must be held by October 2025, say Canadians want an anti-Carbon tax election as they cannot afford a planned increase in the federal carbon tax, The main opposition party has also been accusing Trudeau of presiding over high prices and rising crime.
To trigger an election, the Conservatives need the backing of every single opposition legislator.
But the separatist Bloc Quebecois, which wants independence for the province of Quebec, backed Trudeau. The party said last week it would back Trudeau until at least the end of this month in return for boosting seniors' pensions.
Even if the Bloc does turn against Trudeau, he could still be saved by the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP).
A Nanos poll released on Sept. 27 showed the Conservatives on 42 percent public support, far ahead of the NDP on 22 percent and the Liberals on 21 percent. Given this would result in a huge Conservative victory if replicated in an election, the NDP could be tempted to keep Trudeau in power, in the hope its own fortunes might recover.
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