NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced on Thursday that his party will back Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government in next week’s non-confidence vote, effectively quashing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s attempt to trigger a federal election. Despite Singh’s recent harsh criticism of Trudeau’s leadership, the NDP leader stated that his party will vote against the Conservative motion, arguing that Poilievre’s policies would be more damaging to Canadians.
This decision comes just days after Singh publicly ended his supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals, which had been in place since 2022. That deal had provided Trudeau’s minority government with stability in exchange for progress on key NDP priorities, such as dental care and pharmacare. Singh’s recent move to break the agreement was seen as a rebuke of Trudeau’s handling of various issues, including housing affordability and corporate influence. Singh even told his caucus earlier this week that the Liberals “don’t deserve another chance.”
Despite his criticism of the Liberal government, Singh maintained that supporting Poilievre’s non-confidence motion would be a mistake. “New Democrats came to Ottawa to get stuff done, to work for people, not to play Pierre Poilievre’s political games,” Singh said, explaining his reasoning for standing against the Conservative push for an election. “Poilievre and the Conservatives would cut social programs, pensions, and health care. While Trudeau has been bad, Poilievre would be even worse.”
The Conservative non-confidence motion, scheduled for a vote on September 24, would have triggered a general election if it had gained the support of both the NDP and Bloc Québécois. However, Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet also confirmed his party will not support the motion, making an early election unlikely. Blanchet said his focus is on negotiating with the Liberals to secure more gains for Quebec, rather than bringing down the government.
Poilievre’s Scathing Response
Poilievre responded with fierce criticism of Singh, accusing him of deception and calling him a “fake, a phoney, a fraud, and a liar” during a heated question period in the House of Commons. Poilievre accused Singh of tearing up the NDP-Liberal deal just before recent federal byelections, only to quietly rejoin forces with the Liberals after the votes were cast. “Singh taped back together the carbon tax coalition and sold out voters,” Poilievre said, referring to the collaboration between the Liberals and NDP on climate policies like the carbon tax. Poilievre further claimed that Singh’s actions were a calculated move to mislead voters into thinking the NDP represented a meaningful alternative to the Liberals, only to fall back in line with Trudeau after securing votes in the byelections.
NDP’s Political Strategy
Despite the sharp rhetoric from the Conservative leader, Singh defended his decision, framing it as part of a broader political strategy. Singh stressed that the NDP is building a “movement” to win the next general election, positioning the party as a progressive alternative to both the Liberals and Conservatives. “I’m here to become the next prime minister,” Singh declared. “In the next election, people have a choice.”
Singh also hinted that his party could still bring down the government in the future, indicating that the NDP will decide on non-confidence motions on a “case-by-case” basis. This flexible approach, he argued, allows the NDP to continue pushing for policy changes while avoiding the risk of handing power to a Conservative government that he believes would dismantle crucial social programs.
Financial and Electoral Considerations
Singh’s decision not to back an early election may also be influenced by practical considerations. The federal NDP faces a challenging financial situation compared to the two major parties. Elections Canada data shows that the Conservatives raised $20 million in the first half of 2024, while the Liberals brought in $6.9 million. In contrast, the NDP raised just $2.6 million during the same period, putting the party at a financial disadvantage if an election were to be called soon.
Adding to the difficulty, the NDP’s provincial counterparts in British Columbia and Saskatchewan are also gearing up for their own elections in the coming months. Since the federal and provincial NDP wings share resources, a concurrent federal election would strain the party’s already limited financial and organizational capacity. Singh’s decision to avoid an early election may be a strategic move to preserve the party’s resources for a more favorable electoral moment.
Future of the Liberal-NDP Relationship
Singh’s comments suggest that while the NDP remains highly critical of Trudeau’s government, the party is unwilling to risk triggering an election that could lead to a Conservative victory. Despite ending the formal supply-and-confidence deal, the NDP appears willing to continue working with the Liberals on a case-by-case basis, leveraging its position to push for policy reforms, particularly in areas like healthcare and social services.
While the immediate threat of a federal election has been averted, the political landscape remains volatile. The tension between the NDP’s criticisms of the Liberals and their decision to continue supporting the government could pose challenges for Singh’s leadership and his party’s electoral prospects. At the same time, Poilievre’s attacks on Singh suggest that the Conservative leader sees the NDP’s backing of the Liberals as a key vulnerability that he can exploit in future campaigns.
For now, the Trudeau government survives another political challenge, but the broader question of when Canadians will next head to the polls remains unresolved. With federal byelections recently completed and the possibility of future non-confidence motions looming, the political maneuvering in Ottawa is far from over.
