NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation on Monday as the Liberal government struggles to regain its feet after the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland from Cabinet.
“Right now Canadians are struggling with the cost of living, I hear it everywhere I go. People cannot find a home that they can afford, they can’t afford their groceries. And on top of that, we have Trump threatening tariffs at 25% which put hundreds and thousands of Canadian jobs at risk and instead of focusing on the issues, Justin Trudeau and the Liberals are focusing on themselves,” Singh told reporters in Ottawa.
“They are fighting themselves instead of fighting Canadians and for that reason, today I’m calling on Justin Trudeau to resign, he has to go.”
In a statement released by Singh following the news of Freeland’s resignation, he accused the Trudeau government of being “obsessed with infighting” and not paying attention to the needs of Canadians.
However, Singh stopped short of answering whether he would declare nonconfidence in the Liberal government.
“All tools, all options are on the table,” he said in response to being repeatedly asked if he would make said declaration as soon as possible. After skirting the question several times, Singh said, “Anything (was) possible.”
Freeland, who also serves as deputy prime minister, made the bombshell announcement early Monday morning ahead of her much-anticipated fall economic statement.
News of her stepping down sent shockwaves through the political landscape, with opposition politicians wasting no time to weigh in on the “withering resignation,” as Singh called it.
“The withering resignation of Trudeau’s right-hand minister shows just how deeply this Liberal government’s members are obsessed with infighting, and ignoring the urgent challenges everyday Canadians are coping with,” reads Singh’s statement.
Her resignation comes only a day before the government’s fall economic statement, which is expected to have surpassed its targets and the news that the government would be cancelling Trudeau’s announced $250 cheque distribution scheme.
In a letter to Trudeau posted on social media Monday morning, Freeland said rather than accepting a shuffle to another cabinet position she will be resigning, claiming she and Trudeau have been “at odds about the best path forward for Canada.”
Freeland said she will be staying in caucus as a member of Parliament and seeking re-election.
While speaking to reporters, Singh went on to say that the government should be focused on “fighting for Canadian jobs at risk from Donald Trump’s tariffs.”
“While Trudeau obsesses over his own drama, I believe we should be focused on the cost of homes and groceries that are burning up people’s paycheques and dimming hope,” he said.
However, the NDP leader’s criticism didn’t end with the Liberal party, he also took the announcement as an opportunity to go after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who he claimed “gleefully licks his chops at Trudeau’s death spiral and Trump’s threats.”
“Conservatives aren’t thinking about everyday people, either—they’re focused on making big businesses and ultra-wealthy CEOs richer at people’s expense,” continued Singh’s statement.
“Canadians are sick and tired of watching government after government put themselves, their friends and corporate giants first. People deserve a government that fights for you for a change.”
Poilievre responded by saying that the only reason the Liberals were still in power was because of the support received from the NDP party, which he alleged is rooted in Singh’s seeking to secure his parliament pension, which won’t be eligible for until February.
“Mr. Trudeau is being held in office by one man…why is Jagmeet Singh making the entire country wait for him to get his pension?” Poilievre told reporters in a press conference on Monday afternoon.
“Everything is spiralling out of control,” he said. “Out of control spending and bureaucracy has doubled housing costs with 1,400 homeless encampments taking over Ontario alone. Out of control immigration has led to refugee camps opening in suburban Canada and then we have 500,000 people in the country illegally.”