NDP will bring forward a non-confidence motion to bring gov. down

OTTAWA — The New Democrats will bring forward a non-confidence motion to bring down the Liberals in the next sitting of the House of Commons, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Friday.

In the latest blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s struggling Liberal government, Singh wrote a letter address to Canadians in which he doubled down on his call for Trudeau to resign but also said the NDP will vote to bring down the government, regardless of who is at its helm.

“The Liberals don’t deserve another chance,” Singh wrote. “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.”

That opportunity can’t happen until at least the end of January as the House rose Tuesday and isn’t currently scheduled to sit again until Jan. 27.

The NDP’s pledge to try to bring down the government adds more uncertainty to the prime minister’s future as he faces mounting pressure to resign follow Chrystia Freeland’s resignation on Monday.

The Conservatives and Bloc Québécois have both been calling on New Democrats to vote non-confidence in the government but the NDP have supported the Liberals on three confidence votes since September.

If such a vote passes, it would trigger an election.

Trudeau has yet to address Freeland’s departure publicly but told Liberal MPs earlier this week that he will reflect on the situation and what he was hearing from them.

Trudeau is shuffling his cabinet on Friday but his public itinerary doesn’t include a media availability.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2024.

Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press