'Liberals have let people down': Jagmeet Singh withdraws support from Justin Trudeau’s minority govt
PTC Web Desk: In a significant blow to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh's New Democratic Party (NDP) has officially withdrawn its support for the minority Liberal government, setting the stage for heightened political tension ahead of the general election scheduled for next year. This withdrawal marks a dramatic shift in Canadian politics, with recent polls indicating a potential Conservative victory.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, made the announcement in a video posted on social media, expressing his dissatisfaction with Trudeau's leadership. "Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians," Singh stated in the video. His sharp criticism underscored the rift between the two parties, despite their prior agreement to work together.
The deal is done.
The Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to stop the Conservatives and their plans to cut. But the NDP can.
Big corporations and CEOs have had their governments. It's the people's time. pic.twitter.com/BsE9zT0CwF — Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) September 4, 2024
The 2022 deal between the NDP and Trudeau’s Liberal government was established to keep the minority government afloat. It ensured that Singh’s party would provide support on key votes, including confidence measures, in exchange for the Liberal government addressing significant issues like dental care benefits, housing affordability, and income support for low-income Canadians. However, with some promises unfulfilled, Singh decided it was time for his party to move in a different direction.
"The big battle now is defeating the Conservatives to stop them from choosing big corporations over young people and Canadian families," Singh said in his video. He also warned against the opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, accusing the Conservative Party of favouring wealthy corporations at the expense of ordinary Canadians. Singh voiced concerns that a Conservative government would lead to cuts affecting workers, retirees, and families, while benefiting large businesses and their CEOs.
The sudden announcement reportedly caught Trudeau's Liberal Party off-guard. According to sources, within minutes of informing the party about the decision to withdraw support, Singh posted his video on social media, leaving the Liberals scrambling to react. The NDP leader made it clear that his party is prepared for an election and that every confidence vote going forward will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
In response to Singh's decision, Prime Minister Trudeau remained focused on policy issues, reiterating his commitment to tackling Canada's affordability crisis. "These are the things that we're focused on. I'll let others focus on politics. I really hope the NDP stays focused on how we can deliver for Canadians, as we have over the past years, rather than focusing on politics," Trudeau said, deflecting direct confrontation.
Despite the political fallout, Trudeau expressed hope that the next election could still be delayed until fall of next year, giving his government more time to work on critical policies such as pharma care, dental care, and school food programmes.
The agreement between the two parties, often referred to as a confidence-and-supply arrangement, had previously allowed Trudeau's minority government to remain in power. Under the deal, Singh's NDP supported the Liberals on crucial votes, ensuring the government’s stability while advocating for specific policies beneficial to Canadians. However, the NDP felt that the Liberal government had failed to meet several key promises, including full implementation of the dental care plan and rental supplements for low-income families.
With the NDP now stepping back, the Trudeau government faces increased pressure, not only from the opposition Conservatives, who have gained momentum in recent polls, but also from the possibility of an election being triggered sooner than anticipated.
- With inputs from agencies
