Liberal government survives third Conservative non-confidence vote

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s latest attempt to bring down the minority Liberal government in a non-confidence vote was thwarted on Monday, as the New Democrats refused to support the motion.

The motion put forward by the Conservatives cited NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s criticism of the Liberals on labour issues and called on the House to vote non-confidence in the government. However, Singh had previously stated that he would not support Poilievre’s efforts to topple the government.

During the vote on Monday afternoon, there were jeers from the Conservative benches as NDP MPs cast their votes against the motion. Singh, who was not present in the House chamber due to a prior meeting, voted remotely.

Following the vote, Singh emphasized that the NDP would not support the Conservatives’ “games” and reiterated their commitment to holding the government to account on issues that matter to Canadians.

In addition to the non-confidence motion, MPs also voted on an NDP opposition motion calling for the permanent removal of GST from essential items. The motion also urged the Liberals to expand their planned $250 “working Canadians rebate” to include vulnerable adults, such as fully retired seniors and individuals relying on disability benefits. However, the motion was defeated, with only the NDP and Greens voting in favor.

Hamilton East—Stoney Creek Liberal MP Chad Collins was the sole government member to support the NDP motion, highlighting divisions within the House on key policy issues.

The Liberals had initially announced plans for a federal sales tax holiday and the rebate together, but introduced the GST measure in a separate bill in response to the NDP’s demands for expansion of the rebate.

Looking ahead, the Conservatives are set to introduce their final opposition motion of the sitting on Tuesday, which will focus on removing GST from sales of new homes valued at under $1 million. The marathon voting session is expected to continue late into Tuesday, with a separate vote scheduled on the government’s supplementary estimates.

Treasury Board President Anita Anand has requested Parliament’s approval for $21.6 billion in funding for various programs, including housing, dental care, and the national school food program. Failure to secure this funding could lead to cash shortfalls in critical programs, such as veteran benefits and natural disaster assistance.

Overall, the ongoing parliamentary debates and votes reflect the political dynamics at play in the House of Commons and the diverse priorities of the different parties represented.