By the numbers: Here's what it would take to bring down the Liberals in a confidence vote
CBC
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government survived a confidence vote this week with the help of the NDP and the Bloc Québécois — but the Liberals will be facing another one very soon.
The Conservatives have said repeatedly they want to bring down the government as soon as possible and have put forward another non-confidence motion already. It's expected to go to a vote next week.
They also have three more opposition days — when opposition motions take priority over government business — between now and Christmas. They can use those days to push more confidence votes.
The NDP and Bloc also will have one opposition day each this fall, giving them an opportunity to bring forward non-confidence motions of their own.
The Bloc has sent the government a list of demands. It says that if they're not met by the end of October, they'll look to bring down the government in a confidence vote.
The Liberals also could face confidence votes on money bills, such as the supplementary estimates or the fall economic statement (if it includes new spending).
Here's a breakdown of how the major parties would have to align in order to trigger an early election.
If both the Bloc and NDP decide at any point to vote with the Conservatives and bring down the Liberal government, the result would be a foregone conclusion.
As it stands, the Liberals have 152 seats in the House of Commons, not counting House Speaker Greg Fergus, who would only vote to break a tie.
The Conservatives have 119 seats, the Bloc has 32 and NDP has 24. Together, the three party caucuses would out-vote the Liberals 175 to 152 and the government would fall.
Both the Bloc and the NDP have candidates who recently won byelections but have yet to be sworn in as MPs. Once those candidates take their seats, each party will have an extra vote.
If either the Bloc or NDP votes against a non-confidence motion, the Liberals would continue to govern.
MPs aren't forced to vote on every motion. They can abstain.
If the entire NDP caucus abstains from a confidence vote while the Bloc sides with the Conservatives, that could be enough to trigger an election. It would depend on how the Greens and Independent MPs vote.
