Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau successfully weathered a confidence vote on Wednesday after the opposition failed to gather enough support to bring an end to his nine-year Liberal Party leadership.
In the House of Commons, legislators voted 211-120 to dismiss a motion brought by the Conservative Party, which called for a no-confidence vote against Trudeau’s minority government.
Trudeau’s popularity has waned in recent times due to dissatisfaction over rising costs and a housing crisis. His political position weakened further when the smaller New Democratic Party (NDP) withdrew from a 2022 agreement that would have supported him until the next election, slated for late October 2025.
“This is a positive outcome for the country because I don’t believe Canadians are eager for an election,” said Karina Gould, the Liberal leader responsible for government business in the House of Commons.
Although Trudeau survived this vote, further challenges lie ahead. Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet announced earlier that day he would aim to topple the government unless the Liberals swiftly met the Bloc’s demands.
The Liberal government is also set to face another crucial vote on a budgetary measure, which could also be treated as a vote of confidence. However, officials anticipate the government will prevail once again, with the vote expected to occur on Wednesday or Thursday.
“We’ll continue addressing each issue and piece of legislation, working with various political parties to find common ground,” Gould explained to reporters.
The Conservative Party, which is currently leading in the polls ahead of the election deadline in October 2025, is pushing for an earlier election. They argue that Canadians cannot afford the planned federal carbon tax hike and have also criticized the Liberals for increased federal spending and rising crime rates.
In a statement, the Conservatives declared, “Enough is enough. Costs are up, taxes are up, crime is up, and time is up.”
Trudeau, while acknowledging public discontent, accused the Conservatives of focusing on politics rather than addressing the needs of the people.
Bloc leader Blanchet suggested he would allow Trudeau to remain in power until the end of December, provided the government allocates more funds to seniors and guarantees the protection of tariffs and quotas that safeguard Quebec’s dairy farmers.
Blanchet warned that if these conditions were not met by October 29, he would consult with other opposition parties to explore the possibility of ousting Trudeau. However, this plan would require the backing of the NDP, which supported Trudeau in Wednesday’s vote. Polls indicate that the NDP, like the Liberals, would face difficulties if an election were called soon.
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