Canada headed for political turmoil?

Friday, 06 Sep, 2024
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh (right) criticized PM Justin Trudeau for failing to address key issues affecting Canadians. (Photos courtesy: Facebook handles of Trudeau and Singh)

NDP's Jagmeet Singh indicated that the decision to withdraw from the minority Liberal government had been in the works for several weeks.

Toronto: In a setback for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, key ally Jagmeet Singh's New Democratic Party (NDP) has pulled out support for his minority Liberal government ahead of the general election next year. Jagmeet Singh said Trudeau will not be able to take on the opposition Conservatives amid recent polls showing them securing an easy win in elections.

In a video message, the Sikh leader criticized Trudeau for failing to address key issues affecting Canadians, particularly accusing him of succumbing to "corporate greed" and letting the public down. Singh's withdrawal places the minority government at risk, as it will now need to seek support from other opposition parties, such as the Bloc Quebecois, to survive confidence votes.

"Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians," Singh said in a video message. "Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians,” he posted.

The NDP's support was crucial for the Liberal government, allowing it to maintain power through a confidence-and-supply agreement established in 2022. This agreement was intended to last until June 2025, but Singh indicated that the decision to withdraw had been in the works for several weeks, suggesting a growing discontent with the Liberal government's performance on various promises, including healthcare reforms and affordability measures.

Meanwhile, Trudeau expressed his focus on addressing the affordability crisis and other pressing issues, asserting that he hopes the next election will not occur until the fall of 2025. He emphasized: "These are the things that we're focused on. I'll let others focus on politics”. The Canadian Prime Minister also said he remained hopeful that the next election will not happen "until next fall" so that his government can also work on pharma care, dental care, and school food programs.