Trudeau survives vote of confidence in Canadian parliament, new threat looms

Mr. Trudeau became more politically vulnerable this month when the smaller New Democratic Party tore up a 2022 deal to keep him in power until an election scheduled for end-October 2025

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau easily survived a vote of confidence on Wednesday (September 25, 2024) after his main political rival failed to muster enough support to end nine years of Liberal Party rule.

Legislators in the House of Commons voted 211-120 to defeat a motion by the official opposition Conservative Party declaring a lack of confidence in Mr. Trudeau's minority Liberal government.

Mr. Trudeau, whose popularity has slumped amid unhappiness over rising prices and a housing crisis, became more politically vulnerable this month when the smaller New Democratic Party tore up a 2022 deal to keep him in power until an election scheduled for end-October 2025.

Despite surviving the vote, other challenges loom for Mr. Trudeau. Earlier in the day, the leader of the separatist Bloc Quebecois said he would work to bring down the government unless it quickly agreed to the Bloc's demands.

Mr. Trudeau's Liberals will soon face a second vote on one of its budget measures, which is also a matter of confidence, but are also expected to survive that. Officials said the vote could take place on Wednesday or Thursday (September 26, 2024).

The right-of-center Conservatives have a big lead in the opinion polls ahead of an election that must be called by the end of October 2025.

The Conservatives say they want an election as soon as possible on the grounds that Canadians cannot afford a planned increase in the federal carbon tax. They also say federal spending and crime have ballooned under the Liberals.

Mr. Trudeau, while acknowledging public unhappiness, has accused the Conservatives of playing politics rather than focusing on what people need.

Bloc leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said he would keep Mr. Trudeau in power at least until end-December if he gave more money to seniors and vowed to protect a system of tariffs and quotas that protect dairy farmers, many of whom live in Quebec.

If the government did not formally do this by Oct. 29, the Bloc would talk to opposition parties with a view to bringing down Trudeau, he told reporters.

But to succeed he would need the support of the NDP, which also backed Mr. Trudeau on Wednesday. Polls indicate the party would also be in trouble if an election were called now.

Mr. Trudeau played down polls showing his party's unpopularity, saying they reflect Canadians' frustrations with daily life.

"People are taking a lot out on me for understandable reasons. I've been here, and I've been steering us through all these things, and people are sometimes looking at change," he told U.S. late-night television host Stephen Colbert on Monday (September 23, 2024).

Published - September 26, 2024 07:59 am IST