After announcing his departure, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to reach an agreement with opposition leaders so that his government would survive a few more weeks in Parliament, Radio-Canada has learned.ย
Sources said theย day after announcing he would resign on Monday, the prime ministerย personally called the leaders of the New Democratic Partyย and the Bloc Quรฉbรฉcois.
He wanted to obtain a commitment from one or the other to vote in favour of the budget appropriations โย a vote of confidence โ at the end of March, once prorogation had passed, the sources said.ย
That vote of confidence would have ensured the survival of the government for a few more weeks and given the Liberal Party of Canada more time to elect its new leader.
But Trudeau’s gambit faltered, with both the Bloc and the NDP refusing to back the embattled prime minister as they stood by their respective promises that they would bring down the government at the first opportunity.
During his conversation withย NDPย Leader Jagmeet Singh, Trudeau argued that NDP support would have made it possible to extend and expand dental care programs and the federal drug insurance plan. An NDP source with knowledge of the conversation said the government already has all the powers it needs.
“For Jagmeet and the NDP, it is not a question of helping the Liberals with their internal bickering and buying themselves time. Jagmeet is focused on the challenges that people face as well as the threat of Trump that weighs on our workers and our economy,” the NDP source said in an email to CBC News.
Asked to comment on the prime minister’s attempt to prolong his government, the response from the leader of the Bloc Quรฉbรฉcois was short.
“The Bloc Quรฉbรฉcois wants elections as soon as possible!” Yves-Franรงois Blanchet said.
The March 26 deadline
Having failed to secure that extra time, the Liberal Partyย finally announced the details of an accelerated leadership race Thursday evening. The new Liberal leader will be announced on March 9.
Liberalย authorities found themselves caught in a vise after theย resignation of former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, which eventually led to Trudeau announcing his departure on Jan. 6.ย
A crucial budgetary deadline could lead to the fall of the Liberal government at the end of March.
Three times a year, Parliament must approve the government’s budget appropriations, which cover the operating expenses of the government, its program funding and transfers, among other things.
The next deadline is scheduled for March 26, two days after the announced return of Parliament.
If the minority Liberal government does not find at least one of the three leading opposition partiesย to support it, it will fall, since this vote involves the confidence of the House of Commons.
In theory, the government could also fall during a confidence vote on its speech from the throne, whichย will be delivered at the beginning of the new parliamentary session on March 24. However, the government has options that wouldย allow it to postpone or avoid holding this vote.
In addition to announcing his resignation as Liberal leader and as prime minister once a new leader is chosen, Justin Trudeau says he has asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until March 24. Hereโs everything you need to know about what that means โ and what happens next.
The budgetary appropriations vote, however, is unavoidable.
The next prime minister and new Liberal leader could therefore use the throne speech on March 24 to state their priorities and put forward their vision before diving into an election campaign a few days later.
After being elected on March 9, the new prime minister could also go directly to the Governor General to dissolve Parliament at any time and launch an election campaign.
