Canadians are ‘done with Justin Trudeau,’ Singh says
“People are telling us again and again that they are fed up with and frustrated with Justin Trudeau, who has let big corporate grocery stores rip them off,” Singh said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh declared on Monday that Canadians are "done" with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, following his party’s withdrawal from a supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals earlier this month.
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on the first day back for MPs after the summer break, Singh expressed the frustrations he has heard from voters.
"People are telling us repeatedly that they are fed up with Justin Trudeau, who has allowed big corporate grocery stores to overcharge them," Singh said. "He’s let big corporate landlords drive up rents, and people are saying they are finished with and done with Justin Trudeau."
Singh’s comments coincided with the release of a new Ipsos poll conducted for Global News, which showed that support for Trudeau and his Liberal government has reached a "new low." According to the poll, only 33% of Canadians approve of the Trudeau government. Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was favored by 45% of respondents as the "best prime minister of Canada."
Trudeau’s support for the top job came in at 26%, with Singh close behind at 23%.
Darrell Bricker, global CEO of Ipsos public affairs, noted that among the top three political leaders, Singh has "the most work to do."
Singh continued to criticize both the Liberals for rising living costs and the Conservatives under Poilievre, who he said "want to cut the things that people need," such as health care and pensions.
Last week, the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, and Bloc Québécois all met to discuss their strategies for the upcoming fall session of Parliament. Singh said the NDP’s priorities would include affordable housing, reducing grocery and rent prices, and addressing issues in the health care system, even though health care is primarily a provincial responsibility.
“We know that in the next election, there will be a clear choice: Conservative cuts under Pierre Poilievre or New Democrats who will strengthen the programs you rely on,” Singh stated.
On September 4, Singh announced the end of the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals in a pre-recorded video, saying that the Liberals have "let people down" and no longer "deserve" to be re-elected. The agreement, originally signed in March 2022, was meant to keep Trudeau’s minority government in power until June 2025, with key policies like dental care and pharmacare on the agenda.
Singh told reporters that the end of the deal has made an election more likely and emphasized that the NDP will be "ready for an election."
Poilievre has promised to bring forward a non-confidence motion against the Liberal government "at the earliest opportunity" and has urged Singh to support it. Singh reiterated that the NDP would evaluate each motion individually and make decisions based on "the best interests of Canadians."
