NDP leader Singh says he’ll vote to topple Trudeau government

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A Canadian opposition leader said his caucus plans to vote against Justin Trudeau’s government, a move that would plunge the country into an election early next year unless the prime minister seeks a temporary suspension of parliament.

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Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party, said in a public “letter to Canadians” on Friday that he will put forward a motion of non-confidence in the government at the next parliamentary sitting.

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If all other major opposition parties vote alongside the NDP, Trudeau’s government would have to resign, triggering an election campaign in Canada soon after Donald Trump returns to power in Washington.

Trudeau’s Liberal Party caucus does not have a majority in the House, and until now it has been relying on NDP votes to pass legislation and keep the government going. Singh and Trudeau had a formal agreement to co-operate, but the NDP leader withdrew from the deal in September.

Singh made the announcement Friday shortly before Trudeau announced changes to his cabinet, an effort to restore stability after the shocking resignation of Chrystia Freeland as finance minister on Monday. The Liberals are deeply unpopular in polls and the prime minister is facing pressure from within his caucus to step down after Freeland’s departure.

“The Liberals don’t deserve another chance,” Singh said in a statement. “That’s why the NDP will vote to bring this government down, and give Canadians a chance to vote for a government who will work for them.”

The prime minister is expected to reflect on his future over the holiday period, with parliament on a break until Jan. 27.

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It’s an option for Trudeau to ask the governor-general to prorogue parliament — terminating its current session — which would extend the time before lawmakers return to Ottawa and thus delay Singh’s promised vote of non-confidence.

The new cabinet takes over at a time when the economy is in a state of uncertainty because of Trump’s threat to place 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods.

Dominic LeBlanc — who joined the prime minister at a dinner meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November — was sworn in as finance minister on Monday after Freeland quit.

David McGuinty, an Ottawa member of parliament since 2004, is taking on LeBlanc’s former role as minister of public safety, a position that includes responsibility for border security. That’s increased importance ever since Trump tied his tariff threat to concerns about migrants and fentanyl flowing into the US.

This week, the government announced a $1.3-billion border security plan that included expanded surveillance and a pitch for a North American “strike force” to tackle the fentanyl trade.

Bloomberg.com

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