NDP vows to sabotage the Liberals' governance arrangement
He criticized the Liberals for failing to challenge corporate interests and declared his intention to run in the next election to "stop Conservative cuts."
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has announced the end of the supply-and-confidence agreement between his party and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government.
In a video posted to social media on Wednesday afternoon, Singh revealed that the agreement, which was set to last until June 2025, is being terminated.
"Justin Trudeau has consistently shown that he will always give in to corporate greed. The Liberals have disappointed people. They do not deserve another opportunity from Canadians," Singh stated in the video, which CBC News has obtained a transcript of.
Singh emphasized that a significant challenge lies ahead: "The threat of Pierre Poilievre and Conservative cuts. From workers, retirees, young people, patients, families — he will make cuts to benefit big corporations and wealthy CEOs."
He criticized the Liberals for failing to challenge corporate interests and declared his intention to run in the next election to "stop Conservative cuts."
A spokesperson for the NDP informed CBC News that the decision to end the supply-and-confidence agreement had been in preparation for the past two weeks.
The party only notified the Liberal government of its decision an hour before the video was scheduled to be posted online.
According to a senior government source, the Prime Minister's Office was notified at 12:47 p.m.
The confidence-and-supply agreement, established between the two parties in March 2022, required the NDP to support the Liberal government on confidence votes in exchange for legislative commitments on NDP priorities.
This deal, the first formal agreement of its kind at the federal level, was crucial for the survival of the minority Liberal government.
Some promises made in the deal remain unfulfilled. While the agreement led to progress on priorities such as dental care benefits, one-time rental supplements for low-income tenants, and a temporary doubling of the GST rebate, certain commitments have not been fully met.
For example, pharmacare legislation has not yet passed the Senate, and a bill to amend the Elections Act is still under consideration in the House. A promised Safe Long-Term Care Act has not been introduced.
Although the Liberals and NDP have begun implementing a pharmacare plan with free contraception and diabetes treatments, deals with provincial governments to provide these benefits are still pending.
Additionally, the new federal dental care program will not be fully operational until early next year.
The end of the confidence-and-supply agreement does not immediately trigger an election. The Liberals may seek support from the Bloc Québécois or attempt to negotiate with the NDP on specific issues as needed.
Last week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urged Singh to withdraw from the agreement. In response, NDP House leader Peter Julian mentioned that "leaving the deal is always on the table for Jagmeet Singh."
Ayushi Singh
Poilievre’s call occurred during a byelection campaign in Elmwood–Transcona, Manitoba, where Conservatives have typically finished second to the NDP.
The Conservative Party aims to gain seats in British Columbia and northern Ontario, which are currently held by New Democrats.
A byelection in the Montreal riding of LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, previously held by the Liberals, is scheduled for September 16.
On Tuesday, NDP labour critic Matthew Green noted that the party has been reassessing the deal since Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration less than 24 hours after Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National Railway locked out their workers following a failed bargaining process.
