Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not doing his part to end the deadly conflict in Gaza, his former partner in Ottawa and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh accused Wednesday.
“People are so tired of Justin Trudeau and the Liberals continuing to delay, not taking the necessary actions to do everything we can as a country, [sur la scène] “worldwide, to stop a genocide that is happening in Gaza,” denounced the leader of the New Democratic Party during a press scrum.
Jagmeet Singh was speaking in Montreal, where part of his caucus is meeting until Thursday to prepare for the next parliamentary session. He went to visit his candidate for the highly contested LaSalle-Émard-Verdun by-election, Craig Sauvé, the day before.
Mr. Sauvé has produced advertising leaflets in which he solicits voters’ votes “to stop the genocide in Gaza.” In the document, which his team shared with Dutythe NDP is committed to demanding an embargo on the sale of weapons and military technology, calling for sanctions on Israeli politicians who have made genocidal statements, and having Canada recognize the State of Palestine.
International in the partial
During the leader’s visit, Mr. Singh, a Palestinian flag was displayed in Craig Sauvé’s election office on Wellington Street in the Verdun district. The office of his rival, Liberal candidate Laura Palestini, has been the target of a daily pro-Palestinian demonstration since August.
“There is nothing that is more Canadian, that is more in line with our values as a country, that is more Quebecois, than saying that we will support justice and peace. […] What is happening in Gaza is breaking people’s hearts, [comme] “It’s a great feeling to see children being killed,” Singh said Wednesday, endorsing his candidate’s position.
The Trudeau government has yet to take a categorical position on a charge of “genocide” filed by South Africa against Israel before an international tribunal. It has already said that “irrefutable evidence is needed” to accept the idea that it is such a crime. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly assured this week that no Canadian weapons are being used in Gaza.
For his part, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has categorically aligned himself with the defenders of Israel and its right to defend itself against the Palestinian group Hamas, which he describes as a “death cult.”
Preparing for elections
The NDP tore up its agreement with the Trudeau government last week. Leader Jagmeet Singh said he did not want to work with Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, saying he would “never listen to advice from someone who wants to hurt people.” He did not rule out voting for a Conservative motion of censure, even though he has been hounded by journalists on the subject for several days.
Mr Singh, however, unveiled his plan for the new parliamentary session on Wednesday: to introduce a new housing bill. He said the bill would ban big businesses from buying affordable housing and cut government subsidies to real estate companies “that exploit people”, such as those that raise rents too high.
On Wednesday morning, Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) Leader Pierre Poilievre again attacked the other opposition parties. He reiterated that the NDP is in his eyes a “sellout,” and once again taunted Mr. Singh for not having already shown his colours regarding his vote on a motion of censure that the Conservatives intend to table at the first opportunity to defeat the Trudeau government.
His attacks have not spared the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, who is now considering monetizing his collaboration with the Liberals, now that the NDP is no longer in the picture.
“Will the Bloc vote for Quebecers by triggering this election and [provoquer] “A defeat for Justin Trudeau? Or will the Bloc vote to keep in power the most centralizing and costly government in our history?” chanted Mr. Poilievre at a press conference.
The Conservative leader said Wednesday that he is on the side of Air Canada pilots in their dispute with their employer. Jagmeet Singh sees it as a “political game,” accusing the Conservatives of being absent during another recent labour dispute, the one between rail workers at CN and CPKS. Mr. Singh notably showed up in August on a rail workers’ picket line in Lachine, Montreal.