End of the agreement between the NDP and the Liberals | Poilievre to table a motion of censure to force an election

(Ottawa) The chances of Canadians being called to the polls this fall increased suddenly Wednesday as New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Jagmeet Singh tore up the March 2022 deal with Justin Trudeau that ensured the survival of the minority Liberal government in the House of Commons.

Sensing an opportunity to trigger a fall election that could give him the keys to power, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre intends to quickly test the NDP’s willingness to distance itself from the Liberals.

Three hours after his NDP opponent’s surprise announcement, Poilievre confirmed that he will table a motion of censure against the Liberal government at the first opportunity. If the NDP and Bloc Québécois support such a move, the country will be plunged into an election campaign in the coming weeks.

“The NDP is going to have to make a choice. Sellout Jagmeet Singh is going to have to decide whether to keep Justin Trudeau’s expensive government in power or to trigger an election over the carbon tax,” said Poilievre, who was in Nanaimo, B.C.

Parliamentary work resumes in Ottawa on September 16. The schedule of opposition days has not yet been set. It is during one of these days that an opposition party can table a motion of censure, if it wishes.

Des élections partielles auront aussi lieu le 16 septembre dans deux circonscriptions qui seront déterminantes pour la suite des choses, soit dans LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, dans la région de Montréal, et dans Elmwood–Transcona, dans la région de Winnipeg. Le NPD met toute la gomme pour arracher LaSalle–Émard–Verdun aux libéraux. La circonscription d’Elmwood–Transcona est un bastion néo-démocrate. Une double victoire du NPD pourrait le convaincre que l’heure d’un scrutin général a sonné.

« Des jeux politiques »

Jagmeet Singh a confirmé sa décision de mettre fin à l’entente de soutien dans une vidéo diffusée sur les réseaux sociaux à 13 h, mercredi. Il a avisé Justin Trudeau quelques minutes auparavant.

Les libéraux sont trop faibles, trop égoïstes et trop redevables aux intérêts des grandes entreprises pour se battre pour les gens. Ils ne peuvent pas arrêter les conservateurs. Mais nous pouvons le faire.

Jagmeet Singh, chef du NPD, dans une vidéo diffusée sur les réseaux sociaux

« Les Canadiens et Canadiennes mènent une bataille. Une bataille pour l’avenir de la classe moyenne. Justin Trudeau a prouvé à maintes reprises qu’il cède toujours à la pression des PDG. Il a laissé tomber les gens. Il ne mérite pas une autre chance », a aussi lancé le chef du NPD.

Cette décision signifie désormais que le gouvernement Trudeau devra naviguer sur des eaux plus tumultueuses aux Communes afin de faire adopter son programme législatif.

Si, auparavant, il pouvait essentiellement tenir pour acquis l’appui du NPD pour faire adopter le budget fédéral par exemple, il devra, à compter du 16 septembre, obtenir à la pièce l’appui d’un autre parti.

De passage à Rocky Harbour, à Terre-Neuve, Justin Trudeau a affirmé qu’il n’a pas l’intention de changer d’un iota son plan de match parlementaire malgré la décision de son allié politique de le larguer.

« Le NPD va devoir choisir s’il veut jouer des jeux politiques ou s’il veut livrer pour les Canadiens. On a pu démontrer qu’en investissant concrètement dans les choses dont les Canadiens ont besoin […]we can deliver for Canadians during a difficult time,” Trudeau said.

If the NDP chooses to ally itself with the Conservatives, who only want to cut, who only want to hurt Canadians […]Canadians will judge the NDP appropriately. But I remain optimistic that we will be able to make Parliament work.

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Under this famous agreement, the NDP had committed to supporting Justin Trudeau’s minority government during confidence votes in the Commons for a period of three years, until June 2025.

In exchange, the Trudeau government promised to implement some measures that are dear to the NDP, such as the creation of a national dental care program, the adoption of anti-scab legislation and investments to create a pharmacare program. The most important elements of this agreement have been implemented in recent months.

What power relations?

The NDP’s decision changes the balance of power between the various political parties in the Commons. The Bloc Québécois is well aware of this new situation, said Bloc Québécois parliamentary leader Alain Therrien.

“We are returning to the verdict of the population during the 2021 elections, namely a minority Liberal government. The Liberals cobbled together an artificial majority with the NDP. Now, it’s a comeback and it’s good news for the Bloc Québécois. We want to defend the interests of Quebec and we are ready to negotiate piecemeal, as we did between 2019 and 2021,” explained Mr. Therrien.

For us, it’s easy. What’s good for Quebec is good for us.

Alain Therrien, parliamentary leader of the Bloc Québécois

As for the possibility that the Conservative Party will table a motion of censure, Mr. Therrien said that his party will take into account the political context before making a decision. “For us, it’s not complicated. We don’t defend the Conservatives. We don’t defend the Liberals. We defend Quebecers. All the decisions we make will be based on the interests of Quebecers.”

At the federal cabinet retreat last week in Halifax, government House leader Karina Gould said she was hopeful that the agreement between the NDP and the government would remain in effect as planned until June 2025.

It appears that the Trudeau government’s decision to impose binding arbitration to end the work stoppage that has paralyzed the country’s two railway companies has angered the NDP to the point of accelerating the decision to terminate the agreement.

The end of the governance agreement does not necessarily mean the country will be plunged into an election campaign this fall, said a NDP source who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak more freely.

It will be on a case-by-case basis. If what the Liberal government is proposing is good for Canadians, we will vote for it. If it is bad for Canadians, we will vote against it.

A New Democratic source

Jagmeet Singh will wait until Thursday to explain his reasons for tearing up the agreement at a press conference scheduled for 11:15 a.m.

Mr. Singh is to meet with his caucus in Montreal next week to prepare for the return to parliament, a few days before the by-election in the riding of LaSalle–Émard–Verdun.

Conservatives ahead in polls

Last week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre challenged Jagmeet Singh to end the support agreement.

“Canadians cannot afford another year of Justin Trudeau,” the Conservative leader said during a press conference outside Parliament. “Justin Trudeau is not going to resign. He must be fired.”

Mr. Poilievre issued the challenge while his party has been leading in polls for more than a year. On average, the Conservative Party holds a lead of between 15 and 20 per cent over the Liberal Party of Canada, in power since 2015.

In his social media statement Wednesday, Singh said his party has another, bigger battle to fight: “Confronting Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative cuts. Cuts that are going to hit workers, retirees, young people, families. All so he can give more back to CEOs,” he said.