Justin Trudeau survives non-confidence vote in House as NDP and Bloc prop up Liberals

The Conservative Party non-confidence motion went down to defeat Wednesday as the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Quebecois voted to prop up the Trudeau government. The vote was 211 to 120, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returning from his trip to New York City in time to vote against the non-confidence motion.

On Tuesday, Official Opposition and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievere outlined his reasons for wanting to topple the Trudeau government.

“After nine years of tax increases on entrepreneurs and calling businesses tax cheats, we will pass a Bring It Home Tax Cut to lower the burden on work, savings and investment, so that we bring home powerful paychecks and production to this country, lower, fairer, simpler taxes,” Poilievre told the House of Commons. “We will cap government spending with a dollar-for-dollar law that requires we find $1 in savings for every new dollar in spending. We will cut bureaucracy, waste and consulting contracts so that we can get the budget closed, or hopefully on balance as soon as possible, to bring down interest rates, inflation and debt,” he continued.

Polievere promised to “bring home the promise of Canada, of a powerful paycheck that earns affordable food, gas and homes and safe neighborhoods where anyone from anywhere can do anything the biggest and most open land of opportunity the world has ever seen. That is our vision. That is our purpose. Now let's bring it home.”

During Wednesday’s Question Period, Trudeau rejected the Conservatives’ call for an election. “He wants a climate change election? Let’s have that election in the right time. This is not the time for that. We’re going to continue to work for Canadians,” he said.

Even though New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh said he has “ripped up” his loose coalition agreement with Trudeau, the NDP joined with the Bloc to oppose Poilievre’s motion. Trudeau returned to Ottawa from a trip to New York City, where he spoke to the United Nations General Assembly about the “Summit of the Future.” Some are speculating that Trudeau is seeking to be the next UN secretary general when the current occupant, Antonio Guterres, leaves. Trudeau was also a guest on Late Night with Stephen Colbert, where he lauded Canadian medicare.