(Ottawa) A member of Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative caucus “doubts” that people in his Saskatchewan riding want to be immersed in a federal election campaign right now since they are facing a provincial and municipal election.
“Do they need this third [élection] “? ” asked MP Kevin Waugh out loud this week during an interview with CBC that aired on Saskatchewan’s local newscast.
The elected official noted that the Prairie province will have a provincial election at the end of October. A municipal vote is to follow in November in many cities.
“So do they want the hat trick? I doubt it. Let us have the provincial election first and then we will reassess,” he said Monday.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is trying by all means to bring down Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government to trigger “an election on the carbon tax” which he promises to abolish.
He will submit a first motion of censure to do so next week, but the Bloc and New Democrats intend to oppose it. The Trudeau government will therefore survive this vote of confidence and an election will be avoided for the moment.
However, it is a safe bet that Mr. Poilievre will return to the charge as soon as he has the opportunity.
Several opposition days must be set in the House of Commons calendar for different political parties. These days allow the opposition party that benefits from this procedure to force a debate in the Commons, then a vote, on a subject and a motion of its choice. This is therefore the opportunity to move a motion of censure.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has opened the door to bringing down the Trudeau government later this fall. He hopes to make gains on demands he has made to the government by then.
The Bloc Québécois has been hammering home for days that they want the Old Age Security pension to be increased for seniors aged 65 to 74 in the same way that it was for those aged 75 and over. Another of their priorities is the adoption of their bill on protecting supply management.
In an interview Thursday on Radio-Canada television, Mr. Blanchet indicated that elections could very well occur, according to a timetable he is considering, at the end of October or the beginning of November. “Exactly and probably,” he replied to host Patrice Roy who asked him about his wish to see such a scenario come to fruition.
Quebec Premier François Legault urged the Bloc Québécois to change its tune and vote to topple the Trudeau government next week, when the Conservative motion is put to a vote. Blanchet refused to do so, specifying that he is “neither Conservative, nor Liberal… nor a CAQ member.”