2 weeks Ago By Ari Yanover
OTTAWA — Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh joined the Bloc Québécois on Thursday in declaring he would not be backing the Conservatives’ attempt to plunge the country into a snap election. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet was the first to announce on Wednesday that thus ensuring that the minority Liberals have enough votes to stay in power. Singh appeared before reporters Thursday afternoon to state that his party, fresh off its exit from the supply-and-confidence agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s governing Liberals, would also not support the call from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
“New Democrats came to Ottawa to get stuff done, to work for people, to fight for people, not to play Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative games.” Singh defended his decision against voting non-confidence in Trudeau’s government by accusing Poilievre of wanting to cut the federal dental program, which was one of the priorities the NDP saw passed under its previous agreement with the Liberals, which Singh said they left because the Liberals were too “weak” and beholden to corporate interests to stand up for everyday people. Under that deal, first struck in March 2022, the New Democrats agreed to vote in favour of passing key government legislation, including budget bills, in exchange for the Liberals advancing NDP priorities like pharmacare.
That bill remains in the Senate, which Singh acknowledged played a factor in the NDP’s decision, saying he believes that Conservatives want to stop the program before it even gets off the ground. Poilievre has not yet stated whether a future Conservative government would keep pharmacare or dental care. On Thursday, Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer suggested the party’s position on the latter would be outlined in a future election platform.
Before Singh revealed his position, Scheer accused the NDP leader of acting like a showman by not stating how he would vote on the non-confidence motion earlier. “It’s pathetic that he has to let somebody else do the dirty work for him in propping up Justin Trudeau,” Scheer said, referring to the Bloc Québécois. Singh’s office said the reason he did not appear sooner was because the leader was ill.
Singh’s voice was hoarse as he addressed reporters on Thursday. After stating the NDP’s intention to vote down the Conservative motion, Tory MPs mocked Singh for continuing to support the government. The party sent out a fundraising blast to supporters alleging Singh “has sold out again.
” Poilievre has spent the weeks since Singh pulled out of the deal accusing him of only doing so to boost his electoral chances in a federal byelection in Winnipeg on Monday, which the New Democrats narrowly won over the Conservatives, which were vying to flip the orange stronghold of Elmwood-Transcona blue. NDP party insiders and MPs acknowledged the need for the party to distance itself from Trudeau, who successive public opinion polls show is deeply unpopular. “As soon as the votes were counted and he no longer needed the people of Winnipeg, he betrayed them,” Poilievre said Thursday of the NDP.
The Conservative leader also said the other leader guilty of propping up the government was Blanchet, whom Quebec Premier François Legault called on to reverse course and trigger a federal election. “I’m propping nobody up,” Blanchet said Thursday. “I never support Liberals, help me God.
I go against the Conservatives on a vote that is only about Pierre Poilievre and his huge ambition for himself.” Blanchet outlined how he wants to see the Liberals support his party’s priorities, which includes backing a private member’s bill that seeks to give a 10 per cent increase in pension payments to seniors between age 65 and 74. The independent Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that could proposal to cost $16 billion over five years.
Blanchet said that measure “is now at the very centre of the survival of this government” and that his decision to ensure the Liberals survive next week’s vote was a “strategic issue.” He suggested the first step in gaining momentum for such supports began with his decision to vote against the Conservative motion. He added he would be prepared to bring down the government if progress on the Bloc’s priorities is not made, but declined to offer any timeline.
Government House leader Karina Gould appeared briefly before reporters to say she was pleased with the decision by the Bloc and NDP. As she was asked about the government’s willingness to negotiate with either party, she walked away. Speaking to reporters Thursday morning, Legault called on Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon to “have some courage” and tell his “comrades” in Ottawa to vote for the non-confidence motion, which will be put forward by the Conservatives next week.
Legault expressed frustration with the high numbers of immigrants coming to his province and what he claims are “non-significant” actions from the federal government on the immigration file in recent months, which he says is threatening the French language. “Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon has to duty to stand, to be courageous and to call out Yves-Francois Blanchet,” he said.
Blanchet said that his answer is still “no.” He said he is not a Conservative nor is he a Liberal or a CAQ supporter, but the leader of the Bloc. He said he is serving Quebecers according to his “sole judgment” and that the non-confidence motion does not even mention the Liberals’ failings in immigration.
Despite Blanchet previously saying that he was “reasonably confident” that he could strike a deal with the Liberals on increasing seniors’ pensions, it seems like the Bloc has not received any guarantees that their long-standing ask will be met by the government. “They know where to find us,” said a Bloc party official, speaking on background because they were not authorized to talk about private discussions between parties. The Conservatives’ Quebec lieutenant, Pierre Paul-Hus, tweeted that the Bloc is a terrible negotiator and “sold its soul” to support Trudeau without getting anything in return.
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