On Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced a significant challenge as his main political rival introduced a motion of no confidence against his ruling Liberal government.
The motion, brought forward by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, marks the first major test for Trudeau’s increasingly unpopular minority government.
The House of Commons will hold a debate on the motion, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday.
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While the Conservative motion is considered a long shot, Poilievre, far ahead in public opinion polls, has been pushing for an early election, especially after the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) recently ended its coalition agreement with the Liberals, leaving Trudeau’s administration more vulnerable.
During the debate, Poilievre attacked Trudeau’s handling of the economy, citing rising living costs, a housing crisis, increasing crime, and the doubling of Canada’s national debt under Liberal leadership.
He claimed that Trudeau’s leadership over the past nine years has broken the promise of Canada. Poilievre pledged, if elected, to introduce “a common-sense plan” to cut carbon taxes, address the housing shortage, balance the budget, and tackle crime.
Meanwhile, Trudeau, appearing on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Monday, acknowledged that Canadians are facing significant economic challenges.
He admitted that “people are hurting” and struggling with rising costs but vowed to continue fighting for Canadians.
At a UN press conference on Tuesday, he criticized Poilievre’s proposal to cut essential services, stating his focus remains on supporting Canadians through tough times.
Despite Poilievre’s aggressive campaign, the no-confidence motion is expected to fail, as two smaller political factions have indicated they will back the government.
However, Poilievre has vowed to continue pressing for an election, with another potential challenge coming in early October.
Trudeau, who first came to power in 2015, has previously fended off challenges from Poilievre’s predecessors in the 2019 and 2021 elections.
A recent agreement with the NDP was intended to keep his government in power until late 2025, but the NDP recently abandoned the deal amid concerns it was hurting their own popularity.
According to a recent Angus Reid poll, the Conservatives currently lead with 43 percent of voting intentions, compared to 21 percent for the Liberals and 19 percent for the NDP.
While Trudeau’s government remains in power for now, political analysts suggest that a federal election may not occur until at least the spring of 2025.
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