(Montreal) “Frustrated” with talks with the Liberal government, New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh reiterates his threat: the agreement of support and trust between the two parties will no longer hold if a framework for drug insurance is not established. not filed by 1er March.
“The Liberals always drag their feet, they say one thing and do the other,” Mr. Singh lamented Friday outside Montreal city hall, where he met earlier with Mayor Valérie Plante .
“Despite the fact that we have an agreement where it is written in black and white, they are trying to avoid what they promised to do, they are trying to break the promises. »
The New Democrats and Liberals are linked by an agreement to keep Justin Trudeau’s minority government in power until 2025.
But Mr. Singh demands that the Liberals finally present a national drug insurance framework so that the NDP continues to support the government with important votes, which notably prevents the holding of federal elections.
The agreement originally indicated that the drug insurance bill was to be presented at the end of 2023, but after months of negotiations, the parties postponed the deadline.
Radio-Canada reported on Friday that several New Democratic activists are unhappy with the talks which, according to them, are stalling.
MM. Singh and Trudeau met earlier this week and the NDP leader said he warned him “firmly” that if the Liberals did not fulfill their part of the agreement, there would be “consequences.”
Asked about the consequences in question, Mr. Singh said that the NDP might no longer help the Liberals with their bills, or no longer support them in motions in committee.
“I was firm. I have to see a bill and elements for drug insurance, otherwise the Liberals will have consequences,” he reiterated.
Trudeau remains optimistic
Asked earlier in the day on the subject, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a slightly more optimistic approach.
PHOTO CHRIS YOUNG, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Justin Trudeau
“We are working very hard to deliver a bill to regulate drug insurance and we are making positive progress,” declared Mr. Trudeau, passing through King City, near Toronto.
“We will continue constructively with all parliamentarians who want it. »
Even though he sometimes finds it “frustrating” to work with the Liberals, Mr. Singh stressed that his party had made many gains thanks to this agreement.
“We used our power to really make a difference in people’s lives, with dental care,” he maintained.
“It’s frustrating to work with the Liberals, but the successes we’ve accomplished give me the motivation to continue. »