In a heated session of the House of Commons, tensions flared between NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centring on a non-confidence motion aimed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.
The confrontation unfolded shortly after Singh announced that the NDP would not support the Conservative motion, which is set for a vote next week.
During question period, Poilievre targeted Singh with sharp accusations, branding him a “fake” and a “sellout” for backing the Liberals after previously holding a supply-and-confidence agreement with them.
Singh explained his decision to support the Liberals in the upcoming vote due to his party’s concerns about potential cuts to essential programs like dental care and pharmacare, which he argued are at risk under a Conservative government. “We’re not going to let Pierre Poilievre dictate our choices,” Singh said.
As the exchange intensified, Singh confronted Poilievre directly from across the aisle, prompting a flurry of jeers and cheers from MPs. House Speaker Greg Fergus intervened to restore order, reminding members that question period should focus on holding the government accountable, not attacking each other.
The non-confidence motion, already likely to fail following the Bloc Québécois’s announcement of their opposition, underscores the shifting alliances and strategic calculations at play. Singh’s support for the Liberals has raised questions about his party’s future direction and its relationship with the government.
In a follow-up to the session, Poilievre criticized Singh for what he called a betrayal of voters. He reiterated his stance that the NDP’s decision reflects a failure to represent Canadian interests effectively.
The non-confidence bill is expected to be tabled next week, however with both the NDP and Bloc indicating they wouldn’t support it, the likelihood of it passing is very low.
