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The Liberals and NDP have agreed to a deal that will keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government in power until 2025.
Under the terms of the so-called “confidence and supply” deal announced Tuesday, the NDP will not put forward a vote of non-confidence and won’t vote for a non-confidence motion during the term of the deal.
Trudeau told reporters one of the catalysts for the agreement was the global and economic instability caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“With so much instability around us, Canadians need stability,” Trudeau said. “We’re different political parties, we stand for different things, but where we have common goals, we cannot let our differences stand in the way of delivering what Canadians deserve.”
Trudeau said the deal, which took effect Tuesday, will allow the government to function with predictability to get things done for Canadians. That’s certainly the hope of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
The Liberals have agreed to prioritize a number of things on the NDP wish list, such as a new dental-care program for low-income Canadians, progress on a universal national pharmacare program, legislation to ensure seniors are guaranteed care, and assistance for home buyers.
“I got into politics to help people and I think about all the folks that I’ve met — people that came to me with their hand over their mouth because of their teeth not being in good health, the seniors I’ve spoken to that could not afford medication because they just don’t have the budget to afford it (and) young families that can’t find a home,” Singh said.
“These are people that are worried — and kids are worried about their future. They’re worried about the climate. What we’ve been able to do is use our power in this minority government to get help to people.”
The NDP can walk away from the deal if it doesn’t feel enough progress is being made, but Trudeau believes the parties can work together.
“That’s exactly what this agreement is focused on, saying, ‘There are broad areas in which we agree. We should be able to work constructively together and not have Parliament be obstructive,’ ” he said.
The prime minister stressed every piece of legislation will be scrutinized as it usually is, committees will continue their work and MPs from every party will continue to hold the government to account.
Singh said that was one of the NDP’s priorities entering the agreement.
“We’re not going to let the Liberals off the hook,” he said. “We’re going to continue to fight to make sure people get the help they need. This is not a destination but a starting point.”
Candice Bergen, the interim leader of the Conservative Party, was concerned about what the deal will start.
She said Canadians woke up Tuesday to an NDP-Liberal majority government, even though the majority of voters didn’t support either party in the 2021 federal election.
She noted the deal means the New Democrats will be pushing their policies on the Liberals.
“It also means $214 billion, just that we know of, in new spending for Canadians,” Bergen said. “That’s who’s going to be bearing the brunt of the new NDP-Liberal government. All of which for Canadians means more debt, more inflation, more jobs lost, more uncertainty and frankly more polarization.”
The Liberals will be able to pass four budgets during the term of the agreement.
The parties’ leaders will meet once per quarter, there will be regular meetings between their house leaders and whips, and “stock-take meetings” will be held monthly to discuss the progress on key goals.
— With files from The Canadian Press