Sask. MPs react to defunct Liberal-NDP governance deal

Some Saskatchewan Members of Parliament say the federal NDP’s decision to pull out of the supply and confidence agreement with the Liberal Party, won’t change how the NDP will vote.

“Even in (Singh’s) own statement, he left the door wide open to continue supporting Liberal legislation,” said Andrew Sheer, the MP for Regina, Qu’Appelle.

“He said they would make a decision on a case-by-case basis.”

Sheer pointed to the NDP’s support of the Liberal Party’s carbon tax as an example of how he calls the parties “ideologically alike.”

As of the last federal election, all Saskatchewan MPs represent the Conservative Party.

In a social media post on Wednesday, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, said he ripped up the supply and confidence agreement with the Liberal government saying “Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to cooperate greed.” Singh also promised to deter “conservative cuts” if elected.

The deal is done.

The Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to stop the Conservatives and their plans to cut. But the NDP can.

Big corporations and CEOs have had their governments. It's the people's time. pic.twitter.com/BsE9zT0CwF

— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) September 4, 2024

The NDP-Liberal supply and confidence agreement put NDP support behind the Liberals in moments key decisions were made as a way to keep the party in power.

In return, the Liberals took some of the items in the NDP’s legislative agenda into priority, like its dental care plan.

Michael Kram, the MP for Regina, Wascana, called the slashed agreement a “publicity stunt.”

“I would expect the NDP to continue to support the Liberals for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Kram does not think an election would come out of the deal dissolution.

“There may be an interesting or different dynamic in the backroom negotiations prior to votes, but I think the outcome will remain the same,” Kram said.

Last week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called for the NDP to withdraw its support from the Liberal Party, and vote non-confidence in the government when MP’s are back in the house in a few weeks.

On Wednesday, Poilievre said it will be up to Singh to vote on “whether he keeps Justin Trudeau’s costly government in power.”

Sheer was not certain whether a fall federal election would take place.

“Singh talks tough when he thinks it suits him,” he said. “When there’s actually a vote in the House of Commons he backs down.”