Ottawa, September 5, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
In a significant blow to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party (NDP) has withdrawn its support from the minority Liberal government, just ahead of the general election scheduled for next year.
In a video message shared on social media, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh expressed doubt over Trudeau’s ability to stand up to the opposition Conservatives, referencing recent polls that predict a strong Conservative victory.
“Justin Trudeau has repeatedly given in to corporate greed. The Liberals have failed Canadians. They don’t deserve another chance,” Singh said in the video.
Singh also emphasized that the real challenge now lies in defeating the Conservatives, who he accused of prioritizing big corporations over Canadian families and young people.
“The real fight is with Pierre Poilievre and his Conservative agenda of cuts. From workers to retirees, from young people to families, the Conservatives will cut services to benefit big corporations and wealthy CEOs,” Singh added.
The NDP and the Liberals had entered into a confidence-and-supply agreement in 2022, which was intended to last until October next year. However, an NDP spokesperson revealed that the decision to end the agreement had been under discussion for the past two weeks.
Reports suggest that Singh’s sudden video announcement caught the Liberal party off guard, as the NDP leader informed them of the decision just minutes before posting the video online.
Singh also stated that the NDP is prepared for an election, and that voting non-confidence will now be considered with every confidence measure brought forward.
In response, Trudeau said his government would remain focused on addressing the country’s affordability crisis.
“We are focused on delivering for Canadians, not on political maneuvering. I hope the NDP continues to focus on helping Canadians, just as we have over the past few years,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau also mentioned that he hopes the next election won’t be held until next fall, giving his government time to work on key issues like pharmacare, dental care, and school food programs.
The NDP had propped up Trudeau’s minority government through the confidence-and-supply agreement. In return, the Liberals committed to several NDP priorities, such as dental care benefits, rental supplements for low-income tenants, and a temporary doubling of the GST rebate. However, some of these promises have yet to be fully realized.
