After first non-confidence motion failed, Poilievre is back with another one

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre introduced a new non-confidence motion in the House of Commons on Thursday, just a day after the previous one was defeated.

This latest attempt to topple the government is also likely to fail, as both the NDP and Bloc Québécois have already signaled their continued support for the Liberals, at least for the time being.

The Bloc has given the Liberals until October 29 to meet demands, including increasing pensions and protecting supply-managed sectors like dairy, eggs, and poultry in future trade deals. Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet has warned that if the government doesn't comply, he will push for an early election.

After ending its confidence-and-supply agreement with the Liberals, the NDP has been noncommittal about how long it will support the government, saying it will evaluate each vote "case by case."

Poilievre's motion urges MPs to trigger a federal election, citing rising home prices and crime rates as key failures of the current government.

"The House has lost confidence in the government and offers Canadians the option to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, and stop the crime," the motion reads, echoing Poilievre’s frequent talking points.

During question period, Poilievre asked, "Who could be against this?" regarding his motion. However, he was absent from the Commons when the motion was tabled, leaving MP Luc Berthold, the deputy opposition House leader, to present it—perhaps an indication the party expects it to fail.

"Who's opposed to that motion? Canadians," responded government House leader Karina Gould.

Poilievre shot back, questioning why, if Canadians are against the motion, the government won't allow them to vote on the carbon tax in an election.

Gould dismissed the motion as a sign of "desperation," pointing out that it closely resembles the one that was voted down the day before. "It's a little sad," she remarked.

Should this motion fail, the Conservatives still have three more opportunities before Christmas to introduce non-confidence motions aimed at forcing an election. There may also be additional chances through upcoming votes on spending-related matters, which are often considered confidence votes.

Under Canada's Westminster system, a government must maintain the confidence of a majority of MPs to stay in power. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet will need the support of at least one major opposition party to continue winning those votes.

The latest motion follows a heated day in the Commons on Wednesday, during which MPs engaged in sharp exchanges and name-calling. A derogatory remark made by a Conservative MP about Trudeau was condemned as homophobic.

Trudeau later expressed frustration with what he described as the constant "crap" coming from the Conservative benches. Poilievre, in turn, was accused by Trudeau of not caring about the challenges faced by single mothers, citing the Conservative leader’s votes against social programs designed to help them.

At one point, Trudeau accused Poilievre of wanting to create a two-tier health-care system by privatizing care, a claim Poilievre dismissed as "disinformation from a flailing and desperate prime minister clinging to power."

Trudeau also criticized Poilievre’s reliance on "little performances, the little rhymes and slogans," calling them tiresome.

Speaking before Thursday’s question period, Health Minister Mark Holland voiced frustration with opposition parties, particularly the Conservatives, accusing them of "denigrating" the government and engaging in "personal slurs all day long."

Holland questioned the Conservatives' behavior, saying, "In what other workplace would this be acceptable?"

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner argued that Trudeau has been involved in too many scandals—referencing his vacation to "billionaire island," the WE Charity scandal, the SNC-Lavalin affair, and the blackface incident—and said it’s time for him to step down. "The environment in the House is deteriorating rapidly. We need an election—we need an election now," she added.