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Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s former ally Jagmeet Singh said it would support a ceasefire against the PM if he doesn’t resign by February, when Singh will get eligibility for his pension.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has also called on Trudeau to resign. (Image: Reuters)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is battling a rebellion within his own Liberal Party as his grasp on his power continues to slip. The Prime Minister was hit by another potential setback, as his party’s former ally New Democratic Party (NDP) has hinted at defeating the Liberals in a confidence vote if he does not resign soon.
A top NDP official said his party is willing to defeat the Liberals in a confidence vote if Trudeau does not resign by February or March 2025. This is a significant change of events given that Jagmeet Singh’s NDP had helped the Liberal government survive their first no-confidence motion.
NDP House leader Peter Julian said if Trudeau isn’t gone by then, the NDP would “100%” vote to support a “straight up” non-confidence motion in the House of Commons. “We simply cannot continue like this… We need to act now to help people and stand up against the Trump administration.”
Interestingly, Jagmeet Singh’s deadline of February for ousting Trudeau is coinciding with the date of his eligibility for his MP $2.3 million pension. If Singh qualifies for his pension, he could draw more than $66,000 annually starting at age 65, according to CBC News.
Trudeau ‘Has To Go’: Jagmeet Singh After Deputy PM Quits
Trudeau suffered a major setback this week as his deputy PM Chrystia Freeland resigned in a surprise move over alleged differences over the government’s fiscal spending measures and US President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
The resignation of Freeland, 56, who also stepped down as finance minister, marked the first open dissent against the beleaguered Trudeau from within his cabinet. Trudeau is battling widespread unpopularity and polls show if he would badly to his Conservative rival Pierre Poilievre, who has thrice tried to topple the government.
After Freeland’s resignation sent shockwaves through Canada’s political circles, Jagmeet Singh pushed for Trudeau to step down from his post, saying Canada needs a Prime Minister who will fight for the people.
“It’s time for Justin Trudeau to resign. Liberals are fighting each other – when Canadians need a Prime Minister who will fight for them. It is more important than ever for people to stand together to fight the threat of Conservative cuts,” he said on X.
ALSO READ: Canadian Deputy PM Quitting Over ‘Policy Clashes’ Big Setback For Justin Trudeau: Sources To News18
Trudeau’s Own Party Members Against Him
With polls expected in 2025, Trudeau’s government is under pressure to address economic concerns and maintain public trust amid rising inflation and cost of living accompanied by a housing crisis. Freeland’s resignation has sparked speculation about Trudeau’s ability to lead, with some experts describing it as “a total disaster”.
After the Freeland debacle, some Liberal MPs have said that Trudeau can’t carry on as party leader following another bruising by-election defeat in British Columbia. Trudeau reportedly told disaffected MPs at a caucus meeting that he had heard their concerns and would take time to think about his future.
However, the Liberals’ by-election defeat in BC may leave Trudeau with less room to manoeuvre, CBC News reported. The Conservative candidate won the seat by some 50 percentage points over the Liberal rival, which is considered an embarrassing result given the Liberals won there in the last election.
Liberal MP Ken Hardie said he “regrettably” believes Trudeau must resign and make room for another leader to take the party in a different direction. “The prime minister just doesn’t have the confidence of the Canadian people. The prime minister should resign and somebody new should take the party and the country forward,” he said.
Other sitting Liberal MPs like René Arseneault, Anthony Housefather, Patrick Weiler, Helena Jaczek and Chad Collins have also publicly called for Trudeau to step down.
