With all opposition party leaders vowing to vote non-confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is hoping the Governor General can help make a vote happen.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to Governor General Mary Simon, urging her to persuade Trudeau to either dissolve Parliament and call an election or reconvene as soon as possible to hold a confidence vote. He has called on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québecois Leader Yves François Blanchet to do the same.
Poilievre shared his letter to X on Friday afternoon.
“All three recognized opposition parties, whose combined MPs constitute a clear majority of the House of Commons, have now stated unequivocally that they have lost confidence in the Prime Minister,” wrote Poilievre.
Despite the growing opposition against the prime minister, Poilievre said Trudeau “continues to cling desperately to power.”
Poileve said having a parliamentary sitting over the holiday break is necessary.
“In a crisis like this, with so much at stake for our country, all parliamentarians must put aside personal plans and act in the interest of Canadians,” said Poilievre.
The process of recalling the House usually begins with a request to the Speaker, according to the House of Commons procedure and practice rules. If the speaker is satisfied that it would be in the public interest for the House to reconvene, then a date of resumption is provided, and members are given at least 48 hours to travel to Ottawa.
The House speaker, Greg Fergus, is a Liberal MP but is supposed to discharge his duties in a non-partisan manner.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh issued his own letter on Friday, informing Canadians that he would put forward a non-confidence motion to trigger an election when Parliament resumes.
“If Jagmeet Singh this time is telling the truth, which remains to be seen, then he will join with me and write the Governor General,” Poilievre said when speaking outside of Parliament. “Forty-one million Canadians are being held hostage by the pension of one man. So I’m asking Mr. Singh to put patriotism ahead of pension.”
Poilievre told Simon that the Governor General’s job is to uphold the constitutional principle of a prime minister maintaining the confidence of the House of Commons.
“The position of all opposition parties and a majority of the members of the House of Commons is clear. Only an election or an immediate confidence vote can provide the constitutional certainty we need at this grave time. I seek your most urgent response to this matter.” said Poilievre.
Poilievre called the Liberal caucus revolt and recent events that Canadians have been experiencing “total mayhem” and “hallucinogenic.”
He highlighted three major developments since the last confidence vote. Firstly, Blanchet said he no longer has confidence in Trudeau. Singh followed. Finally, Poilievre said there are 18 Liberal MPs, including Freeland, who have lost confidence. This number grew by at least two more in the hours following Poilievre’s letter.
“Add them all up, and you have 70% of parliamentarians who do not have confidence in the Prime Minister. And, in the middle of a trade, border, crime and cost of living emergency, this cannot go on,” said Poilievre.
True North has been compiling a list of the Liberal MPs who have officially called for Trudeau’s resignation. As of Friday afternoon, it stands at 20. If Parliament is not recalled, the House is set to resume on Jan. 27, 2025.