Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government faced a significant setback when the New Democratic Party (NDP), a key ally, unexpectedly withdrew its automatic support.
This move on Wednesday forces Trudeau to seek new alliances to maintain power, as his government becomes more vulnerable to confidence votes in parliament.
The NDP, led by Jagmeet Singh, had been supporting Trudeau’s government under a 2022 agreement in exchange for increased social spending. However, Singh announced the end of the deal, accusing Trudeau of yielding to corporate interests and failing to address rising prices.
“The Liberals have let people down. They don’t deserve another chance,” Singh stated in a video message.
He also confirming his intent to run for prime minister in the next election.
Despite this development, Trudeau dismissed the possibility of an early election, which must be held by October 2025, and reiterated his focus on governing.
“I hope the NDP stays focused on delivering for Canadians, rather than politics,” he said.
The withdrawal of NDP support puts Trudeau in a challenging position as polls suggest his government could fare poorly if an election were held now. He will now rely on support from other opposition members to survive key votes, including a crucial budget update later this year. If the budget is voted down, it could trigger an early election.
Singh’s decision highlights growing frustration within the NDP over the Liberal government’s handling of inflation and high grocery prices. While the NDP had previously worked with the Liberals to pass social programs like a national dental care plan, Singh emphasized that his party needed to establish independence before the next election.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party is leading in the polls, has called for an early election, arguing that the Liberal-NDP alliance has contributed to rising costs for Canadians. Though the NDP’s move does not automatically trigger an election, the party has signaled that it will evaluate whether to support the Liberals on a case-by-case basis in future confidence votes.
The Guardian and Reuters contributed to this report.
