Liberals survive first confidence vote after the end of governance agreement with NDP
CBC
The Liberal government has survived the first of what is expected to be a series of confidence votes during this fall sitting.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre brought forward a non-confidence motion this week in an effort to topple the government and trigger an early election.
The result of Wednesday's vote wasn't really in doubt, as the NDP and Bloc Québécois had signalled they wouldn't support the Conservative motion.
Wednesday's vote was also the first confidence motion brought forward after the NDP backed out of its supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals. While that agreement was in place, the Liberals could count on the NDP to back them on confidence votes in exchange for movement on certain policy priorities.
The final tally was 211 MPs voting against the motion and 120 in favour. Two Independent MPs and the two Green MPs voted against the motion. Two other Independents voted with the Conservatives.
During question period, roughly an hour before the confidence vote, Poilievre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau debated whether Canadians want an election at this time.
Polls have favoured the Conservatives for more than a year now and if they hold true for the next election, it could result in a Conservative majority government.
Poilievre said again that he'll "axe the [carbon] tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime" if his party forms the next government.
"Why can't we bring it home today?" the Conservative leader asked in question period.
Trudeau shot back by accusing Poilievre of having "slogans without any actual solutions."
"I believe today we will see that this House does not have confidence in the leader of the Conservative Party," he added.
The Conservatives are already planning to bring forward a new non-confidence motion on Thursday and a second vote is expected to take place next week. The Conservatives also will be allotted three more opposition days — where opposition motions take priority over government business — this fall.
The Bloc and NDP also will be allotted one opposition day each before the House is scheduled to rise for Christmas.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet laid out a list of demands Wednesday he said the government must fulfil by the end of October if it wants to avoid the risk of an early election.
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