Canada's Liberal government to get confidence vote from Bloc MPs next week, says Quebecois leader Blanchet
Toronto/IBNS: Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet has told reporters that his MPs will vote in confidence for the Liberal government next week.
Blanchet added that this would foil Conservatives’ first attempt to overturn the Liberal government.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday his intention of putting forward a non-confidence motion next week to force a “carbon tax election.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's joining the Conservative party triggered an election, Poilievre said, adding that the country urgently needs a “carbon tax election”.
Conservative party felt that the ending of the Liberals’ supply-and-confidence deal with the NDP earlier this month would enable it to topple Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government.
The first Conservative opposition day of the fall sitting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday followed with a vote coming Wednesday.
Disregarding the issue, Blanchet has told reporters that his party will not vote for the Conservatives.
“We have already had this conversation many times,” Blanchet reportedly said in French. “The motion contains absolutely nothing. It essentially says ‘would you like to replace Justin Trudeau with Pierre Poilievre,’ so the answer is no.”
Blanchet added his party serves Quebecers, not Conservatives, and the two groups are not one and the same.
When asked whether he has confidence in the prime minister and his government, Blanchet smiled and said “no” adding that he can push the Liberals for progress on Bloc legislative priorities.
Poilievre also put the NDP on notice to support the motion.
In order for the motion to pass, the majority of the current 336 MPs would need to vote to say they no longer have confidence in Trudeau.
Presently, the Liberals hold 154 seats while the Conservatives have 119. Following Monday’s byelections there are reportedly 33 Bloc MPs and 25 New Democrats with the Green party holding two seats and there are also three Independents. The motion can be easily reversed by the total Liberal and Bloc votes.
As Canadians grow weary of Team Trudeau owing to Liberals having lost byelections in two safe seats over the last three months, the Liberal government said it has more work to do.
Government House Leader Karina Gould also directly spoke to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh over his decision to pull out of his party’s deal with the Liberals in a caucus meeting on Wednesday.
“If he cares about climate change, if he cares about pharmacare, if he cares about dental care, if he cares about a progressive agenda for Canadians, he’s going to have to demonstrate that to Canadians.” said Gould about Jagmeet Singh.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
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