Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has successfully fended off a no-confidence vote in parliament, averting a potential early election and temporarily stabilizing his minority government. The vote, spearheaded by Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, aimed to capitalize on Trudeau’s declining approval ratings and trigger new elections, but it failed after falling short of support from other opposition parties.
This no-confidence motion is the first in a series of expected attempts by the Conservatives to bring down the Trudeau government, as the party seeks to capitalize on the prime minister’s weakened political standing. Trudeau’s approval ratings have plunged from 63% when he was first elected to just 28% as of June 2024, amid growing concerns about housing unaffordability, inflation, and rising living costs. The Liberal Party also suffered significant losses in recent by-elections in Toronto and Montreal, increasing pressure on Trudeau’s leadership.
Despite these challenges, Trudeau’s minority government, which holds 153 of the 338 seats in parliament, received crucial support from the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc Québécois, both of which voted to defeat the motion. In the end, the motion was rejected by a vote of 211 to 127.
Poilievre had urged MPs to back his motion by outlining his vision for a Conservative-led Canada, promising policies that would deliver “powerful paycheques” and affordable necessities like food, gas, and housing, while ensuring public safety. The Conservative Party, which currently holds 119 seats, has been leading in several national polls, positioning Poilievre as a potential challenger to Trudeau’s leadership.
However, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who had previously supported Trudeau’s government through a confidence-and-supply agreement, voted against the motion. Singh expressed concerns that a Conservative government would cut social programs such as dental care and pharmacare, which are important to NDP voters. Though Singh pulled out of the formal coalition earlier in September, he maintained that his party would oppose any effort by the Conservatives to take power without sufficient protections for social programs.
Similarly, the Bloc Québécois, a party focused on advancing the interests of Quebec, also voted to keep the Liberal government in place. The Bloc’s leader, Yves-François Blanchet, indicated that the party still saw potential for cooperation with the Trudeau government on Quebec-focused social programs and issues.
While Trudeau’s government has survived this no-confidence vote, his political future remains uncertain. The Conservative Party plans to bring forward additional no-confidence motions in the coming days, hoping to send Canadians to the polls and capitalize on Trudeau’s declining support.
Trudeau, meanwhile, continues to defend his leadership. At a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during the UN General Assembly in New York, he acknowledged the economic challenges facing Canadians but emphasized his government’s investments in the country. “I’m going to keep fighting,” Trudeau told Colbert, signaling his intent to remain in office despite growing political pressure at home.
The outcome of future no-confidence votes remains uncertain, but Trudeau’s survival in Wednesday’s vote highlights the delicate balance of power in Canada’s minority government, as well as the key roles played by opposition parties like the NDP and Bloc Québécois in shaping the country’s political future.