Despite claims by NDP Leader Jagmet Singh that he does not support the Trudeau government, his party will continue to prop up the government and will refuse to support attempts to trigger an early election.
Singh said his party would not aid the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois in trying to topple the Liberal government, telling reporters on Wednesday, “I’m not going to play their games.”
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said he is now willing to cooperate with the Conservatives in a non-confidence vote on Tuesday but the two parties do not have enough MPs alone to trigger an election.
They will still need the help of the NDP to secure a successful non-confidence vote.
“I will not let Pierre Poilievre, the ‘king cut,’ or the Bloc call the shots,” said Singh Wednesday. “We’ll look at any bill that comes forward, any motion that comes forward, and if it’s going to help people with these difficult times, we’ll look at that.”
However, Singh insists that he doesn’t support the Trudeau government and that his party is ready for an election campaign at any time.
The NDP leader said that he would only cooperate in taking down the Liberals if he felt it would help Canadians.
The Conservatives have already introduced two non-confidence motions since Parliament has returned for its fall sitting but both failed as a result of the NDP and Bloc not supporting them.
Following the second non-confidence motion, Blanchet told reporters that he would use his party’s position within the minority government to benefit Quebec, by pushing through Bill C-319, which would hike Old Age Security payouts by 10% for seniors between the ages of 65 and 74.
The other, Bill C-282, would exclude altering supply management in the dairy, poultry, and eggs sectors from any future international trade deals.
“What we are proposing is good for retired persons in Quebec but also in Canada. It’s good for milk, eggs and poultry producers in Quebec but also in Canada. That’s good for everybody,” said Blanchet in September.
Upon introducing the two pieces of legislation, Blanchet also gave the Trudeau government a deadline to pass it last month.
The Bloc gave the Liberals an ultimatum to have the legislation passed or force an election before Christmas if the government did not agree before the deadline, which expired on Tuesday.
Blanchet told the Liberals they are now in serious danger of falling in the next non-confidence vote.
However, the Liberals will manage to survive until the next scheduled federal election, slated for October 25 next year, as long as the NDP continues to prop them up.