OTTAWA – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he plans to vote to bring the minority Liberal government down.
Singh on Friday posted a letter to social media, saying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has failed in the biggest job a prime minister has, to work for the people and not the powerful.
“The NDP will vote to bring this government down, and give Canadians a chance to vote for a government who will work for them,” Singh posted to his X account.
In his letter, Singh said Trudeau said of a lot of the right things, but then proceeded to let the people down again and again.
“The Liberals don’t deserve another chance. That’s why the NDP will vote to bring this government down, and give Canadians a chance to vote for a government who will work for them. No matter who is leading the Liberal Party, this government’s time is up. We will put forward a clear motion of non-confidence in the next sitting of the House of Commons.”
The Liberals, under Trudeau, were first elected in 2015 and again in 2019, when they lost their majority. They were re-elected as a minority in 2021, and have survived largely because of an agreement with the NDP.
The House of Commons is not scheduled to sit again until Jan. 27, 2025.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been calling for an election since he was first elected leader of the party in 2022. He questioned the timing of Singh's remarks in a statement emailed to Dougall Media and posted on Poilievre's X account.
"Ha! Now that Parliament is closed and there is no chance to introduce any motion for months -- until after you get your pension. You did the same stunt in September, claiming you'd no longer prop Trudeau up. Then you went back on your word and voted eight times agaisnt an election and for your boss, Trudeau," Poilievre said.
"Just 11 days ago you voted against a non-confidence motion filled with your own words. Had you voted the other way, we'd be almost half-way through the election now."
Singh said the NDP have used the balance of power to make lives better for Canadians, something he fears would be lost under a Conservative government, with polls indicating Poilievre is likely to win the next federal election.
“I have always fought for people. I fought like hell to get dental care, free birth control and diabetes medication. I didn’t give up when Justin Trudeau said no. And I won’t let Pierre Poilievre take it all away,” Singh writes, warning the Conservatives will cut health care, child care, housing and pensions.
Trudeau has come under increased pressure from within his own party ranks to step down. On Friday the prime minister announced a cabinet shuffle after the departure of former finance minister Chrystia Freeland.
This story has been updated to include comments from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
