Trudeau survives vote of confidence in Canadian parliament, new threat looms

Trudeau survives confidence vote, Bloc Quebecois demands senior benefits, government faces second vote, Conservatives lead in polls.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau easily survived a vote of confidence on Wednesday (September 25, 2024) after his main political rival failed to muster enough support to end nine years of Liberal Party rule.

Legislators in the House of Commons voted 211-120 to defeat a motion by the official opposition Conservative Party declaring a lack of confidence in Mr. Trudeau's minority Liberal government.

Mr. Trudeau, whose popularity has slumped amid unhappiness over rising prices and a housing crisis, became more politically vulnerable this month when the smaller New Democratic Party tore up a 2022 deal to keep him in power until an election scheduled for end-October 2025.

Despite surviving the vote, other challenges loom for Mr. Trudeau. Earlier in the day, the leader of the separatist Bloc Quebecois said he would work to bring down the government unless it quickly agreed to the Bloc's demands.

Mr. Trudeau's Liberals will soon face a second vote on one of its budget measures, which is also a matter of confidence, but are also expected to survive that. Officials said the vote could take place on Wednesday or Thursday (September 26, 2024).

The right-of-center Conservatives have a big lead in the opinion polls ahead of an election that must be called by the end of October 2025.

The Conservatives say they want an election as soon as possible on the grounds that Canadians cannot afford a planned increase in the federal carbon tax. They also say federal spending and crime have ballooned under the Liberals.