A key former ally of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would vote to topple the government, a move that would likely plunge the country into an election early next year unless Trudeau seeks a temporary suspension of parliament.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), said in a public letter that he would put forward a motion of non-confidence in the government at the next parliamentary sitting, which is to begin Jan. 27.
If all other major opposition parties vote with the NDP, Trudeau’s government would have to resign, triggering an election campaign in Canada soon after US president-elect Donald Trump returns to power in Washington.
Photo: Bloomberg
Trudeau’s Liberal Party does not have a majority in the Canadian House of Commons, and until now it has been relying on NDP votes to pass legislation and keep the government going. Singh and Trudeau had a formal agreement to cooperate, which they struck in March 2022. However, the NDP leader withdrew from that deal in September.
“The Liberals don’t deserve another chance,” Singh said. “That’s why the NDP will vote to bring this government down and give Canadians a chance to vote for a government who will work for them.”
Singh issued the letter on Friday morning, shortly before Trudeau announced changes to his Cabinet, an effort to restore stability after this week’s shocking resignation of Chrystia Freeland as finance minister. The Liberals are deeply unpopular in polls and the prime minister is facing pressure from within his caucus to step down after Freeland’s departure.
The prime minister is expected to reflect on his future as Liberal leader over the holiday period.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party appears to be on track to win a large majority if an election is held soon, on Friday said that he would ask the governor-general to urgently reconvene parliament so lawmakers can take down the government right away.
“This cannot go on with a US president coming in threatening tariffs next early next year. We cannot have a chaotic clown show running our government into the ground,” Poilievre told reporters in Ottawa. “What is clear is that Justin Trudeau does not have the confidence of parliament.”
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