The New Democratic Party (NDP) has announced their decision to join forces with the Bloc Quebecois in defeating the Conservative Party’s non-confidence motion.
The motion, which was put forward by Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, aimed to express a lack of confidence in the current Liberal government and potentially trigger a snap election.
However, with the support of the NDP and the Bloc, the Liberals are expected to survive the vote and remain in power.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh stated that his party could not support the Conservative motion as it would not benefit Canadians during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We cannot risk an election at this critical time when Canadians are struggling with the health and economic impacts of the pandemic,” Singh said in a press conference.
The Bloc Quebecois, who have been in talks with the NDP and the Liberals, also announced their decision to vote against the motion.
Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet stated that his party’s priority is to continue working with the government to address the needs of Quebecers.
“We will not support a motion that would plunge the country into an election and distract from the important work that needs to be done,” Blanchet said.
The Liberal government, who hold a minority in Parliament, have been relying on the support of the NDP and the Bloc to pass legislation and avoid a snap election.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his gratitude for the support of the two parties, stating that the government will continue to focus on supporting Canadians during these challenging times.
The non-confidence motion is expected to be voted on in the House of Commons on Wednesday. With the support of the NDP and the Bloc, it is unlikely to pass and the Liberal government will remain in power.
