Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau successfully navigated a confidence vote on Wednesday, as his main political opponent fell short in gathering enough support to unseat his minority Liberal government, which has been in power for nine years.
Legislators in the House of Commons voted 211-120 against a motion from the official opposition Conservative Party, which expressed a lack of confidence in Trudeau’s administration.
Despite this victory, Trudeau faces mounting challenges. His popularity has waned amid rising prices and a housing crisis, and his political vulnerability increased this month when the smaller New Democratic Party (NDP) withdrew from a 2022 agreement designed to keep his government stable until the next scheduled election in late October 2025.
The leader of the separatist Bloc Quebecois, Yves-Francois Blanchet, has also indicated that he may work to topple the government unless Trudeau quickly meets the Bloc’s demands.
Trudeau’s government will soon confront another confidence vote regarding one of its budget measures, which is anticipated to occur on Wednesday or Thursday, though it is expected to pass.
With Conservatives leading in opinion polls ahead of an election that must take place by October 2025, they are pressing for an immediate election, arguing that Canadians cannot afford the planned increase in the federal carbon tax. They also claim that federal spending and crime rates have surged under Liberal rule.
Trudeau acknowledged the public’s dissatisfaction but accused the Conservatives of prioritising political gain over addressing citizens’ needs. Blanchet has stated that he would support Trudeau until at least the end of December, provided the Prime Minister increases funding for seniors and commits to maintaining tariffs and quotas for Quebec’s dairy farmers.
If Trudeau does not formalise these measures by October 29, Blanchet intends to collaborate with other opposition parties to bring down the government.
For this to succeed, he would require the support of the NDP, which also backed Trudeau during Wednesday’s vote. Current polling suggests that the NDP could also face challenges if an election were held now.
In response to his party’s declining popularity, Trudeau downplayed the significance of the polls, attributing them to Canadians’ frustrations with everyday 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 explained during an appearance on US late-night television.
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