Outstanding items from Liberal-NDP deal not in jeopardy, NDP caucus chair says

The chair of the federal NDP caucus says he doesn’t fear that ending the political pact with the Liberals might jeopardize the parts of the deal that are still before Parliament.

While the confidence-and-supply agreement had many policy wins, not all of them have made it to legislation. Pharmacare legislation is still before the Senate and a bill to expand voting opportunities is still in the House of Commons.

Speaking to reporters on his way to chair the NDP’s caucus meeting in Montreal on Tuesday, Alistair MacGregor said he didn’t feel it was a gamble to pull out of the agreement, adding there “should be” enough time for pharmacare to pass through the Senate.

“In my neck of the woods, I think it’s fair to say that my folks are pretty happy that we’ve put some distance between us and the Liberals,” said MacGregor, who represents the Cowichan–Malahat–Langford riding in B.C.

“[Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau’s name is very radioactive in my part of the country.”

While NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has acknowledged an early election is more likely now that the NDP has pulled out of the deal, the party has insisted it will approach each vote in the House of Commons on a case-by-case basis — including any possible confidence motions.

Still, some members of his caucus have warned that those outstanding legislative items could be in jeopardy if an election happens early.

“The only way we lose the advancements on pharmacare and dental care is if we elect Pierre Poilievre,” said Vancouver Kingsway MP Don Davies.

“There’s going to be an election next year no matter what we do. And of course, withdrawing from the [confidence-and-supply-agreement], it just puts us back in the position of a normal minority Parliament, where we have the ability to take each vote on a case-by-case basis.”

‘Better leverage’

Now, the balance of power in the House of Commons has shifted to the Bloc Québécois — which aims to use its leverage to receive government support for its bill to bring pensions for seniors 65 to 74 years old to the same level as those paid to seniors 75 and older.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wouldn’t say Tuesday whether he thinks the party has lost its leverage by pulling out of the deal with the Liberals.

“It’s really a choice for Justin Trudeau. What does he want to do?” Singh told reporters.

“He’s got the ability to move forward on on pharmacare. If he truly wanted to do that, he could do that. And so we’re going to see what Justin Trudeau will do moving forward.”

Still, some NDP MPs feel the party is better positioned to advance its priorities now that it’s out of the agreement.

“I think it was necessary to end the deal to give us better leverage,” said Edmonton Griesbach MP Blake Desjarlais.

“The Liberals don’t have a necessary dancing partner in the Bloc Québécois. It’s not a guarantee. We need to see strong progressive legislation tabled. And so the Bloc, I would hope, would do the same thing.”