The leader of Canada’s opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), Jagmeet Singh, has dramatically increased the likelihood of an early election. This follows his decision on Wednesday to withdraw his party’s unconditional support for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government.
Singh’s move effectively forces Trudeau to seek new alliances to maintain his government’s grip on power until the next federal election, which is scheduled for no later than October 2025. Singh was clear about the implications of his action: “I’ve ripped up the agreement with Justin Trudeau, and I know that means that an election is now more likely as a result. We are ready to fight an election whenever it happens.”
The situation is precarious for Trudeau. His government could be brought down if all the opposition parties unite and vote against it in a no-confidence motion. However, the NDP’s stance remains somewhat ambiguous. Singh dodged questions about whether his party would actively vote to bring down the government, stating instead that the NDP would decide on a case-by-case basis whether to support the Liberals on individual issues.
It’s worth noting that the NDP is the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons. This means that Trudeau’s government could survive a no-confidence vote if the NDP chooses to abstain. The political landscape in Canada is now in a state of flux, with the possibility of an early election hanging in the balance.
