OTTAWA (CU)_In November last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party held informal talks with the New Democratic Party (NDP) regarding a potential deal to prop up the minority government in exchange for action on several critical issues, including housing, healthcare, climate change and compensation for Indigenous children. However, the deal did not go ahead, but NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said at the time that his party was open to discussions on making the parliament work. The parties have now reached an informal deal with the Liberals aiming to stay in power until 2025.
The deal is still tentative and requires the approval of the New Democrats who get any cabinet seats as a result, the Globe and Mail reported. Citing sources which did not wish to be identified, the newspaper said the Prime Minister had convened an unannounced special cabinet meeting on Monday, which was followed by a private briefing to the Liberal caucus. Accordingly, the NDP will support the minority government on key confidence matters in exchange for parliamentary collaboration on pharmacare, dental care and several other issues advocated by New Democrats.
As part of the deal, PM Trudeau’s administration is also expected to make good on its 2021 election promise to impose a special tax on Canadian banks and financial institutions. On Monday, Minister Singh put forward a motion calling on the government to impose the surtax and to expand the tax hike to include oil companies, big-box stores and grocery chains.
Initially commenting on the agreement on Monday, Conservative Party interim leader Candice Bergen said on Twitter: “God help us all.” She then issued a more detailed statement in which she described the Liberal-NDP coalition as “nothing more than a callous attempt by Trudeau to hold on to power”. “Canadians did not vote for an NDP government. This is little more than backdoor socialism… With rising inflation, out-of-control cost of living, and national unity at stake, Trudeau knows he is losing the confidence of Canadians,” the Minister said. “If this NDP-Liberal coalition stands, Canada is in for a very rough ride.”
