Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has survived a no-confidence vote motion in parliament that sought to bring down his minority government and trigger a snap election.
The no-confidence vote, tabled by Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, failed on Wednesday after opposition parties, including the New Democratic Party (NDP) and Bloc Québécois, voted against it.
The motion, which required a majority of the 338 Members of Parliament (MPs) to pass, was defeated by 211 votes. While the Conservative Party, which holds 119 seats, supported the motion, the Liberals, with 153 seats, alongside most members from the NDP and Bloc Québécois, voted to keep Trudeau’s government in place.
Poilievre, who has been leading in recent national polls, is expected to introduce at least two more no-confidence votes on Thursday in an effort to force an election. His party has capitalised on Trudeau’s declining approval ratings, which have fallen to 28% as Canadians face challenges such as housing unaffordability and rising costs of living. The Liberals also lost two key by-elections in Toronto and Montreal this summer, further intensifying the pressure on the Prime Minister.
Poilievre argued that his party would restore economic stability, outlining plans for higher wages and affordable living, saying his government would “bring home the promise of Canada.” However, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh voted against the motion, expressing concerns that a Conservative government would cut social programmes such as dental and pharmacare. Singh recently withdrew NDP support for the Liberals, accusing them of being “too weak” to govern.
Despite the failed motion, Trudeau’s leadership remains under scrutiny. His approval has dropped sharply since his initial victory in 2015, with critics pointing to the affordability crisis gripping Canada. Trudeau defended his record during an appearance at the UN General Assembly in New York earlier this week, saying his government would continue to invest in Canadians.
“We’re going through a really tough time,” Trudeau acknowledged, but added, “I’m going to keep fighting.”
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