Trudeau to face another no-confidence vote as resignation calls pile

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
28 Dec 2024 12:31

The Canadian Parliament is set to hold another no-confidence vote against Trudeau's government as approval dwindles.

In this file photo, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Canada in 2020. (AFP)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might face another no-confidence vote as calls for his resignation keep mounting, particularly after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's resignation earlier this month, according to reports on Saturday.

Freeland’s resignation, after nearly a decade as one of Trudeau's closest allies, has led the Prime Minister to consult intensively with advisors. While elections are scheduled for October 2025, many anticipate they could occur much sooner.

The Parliament's Public Accounts Committee is set to hold a meeting on January 7 to consider a no-confidence motion against Trudeau’s government, stated John Williamson, the panel's Conservative chair.

"It is now clear that the Liberal government does not have the confidence of parliament," Williamson announced on his X account.

Public Accounts will meet starting January 7 to address a motion of non-confidence in the Government.

The committee’s non-confidence report will be tabled in Parliament on Jan. 27 and could be voted on by Jan. 30.

The Government no longer commands the confidence of Parliament. pic.twitter.com/KPK4p9l9AQ
— John Williamson (@JohnWilliamson_) December 27, 2024

The committee consists of five Liberal MPs, four Conservative members, and one representative each from the NDP and Bloc Québécois.

The vote’s outcome is expected to be presented to the House of Commons on January 27, when Parliament resumes after its six-week winter break. According to Williamson, a no-confidence motion could take place as soon as January 30.

The Conservatives already initiated two consecutive no-confidence motions against the government, which survived with backing from its coalition partner, the NDP. Meanwhile, reports suggest that over 50 Liberal MPs have agreed that Trudeau should step down as the party leader.

Trudeau, who came to power in 2015, has led the Liberals to two additional electoral victories in 2019 and 2021. However, public opinion polls now show him trailing Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre by 20 points, following a year in which the Liberals lost four by-elections.

A recent Ipsos poll revealed that over half of Canadians believe opposition parties should remove the government "at the earliest opportunity" and call for an early election. The survey also highlighted a decline in the Prime Minister's popularity, with 77% of respondents stating they think it's time for a new party to take charge.