ReutersCanadian lawmakers are set to vote on a motion that could bring down Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government and lead to an election, although the move is unlikely to pass.
Wednesday’s vote of no confidence is the first in a series of similar votes expected to be brought by the opposition Conservative Party amid a sharp decline in Trudeau’s approval ratings.
The proposal is expected to fail as the leaders of two other political parties – the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc Québécois – have already stated that they will not support the proposal.
Trudeau, who has been prime minister of Canada for nine years, has led a minority government.
The vote is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon, the same day Trudeau will host French President Emmanuel Macron.
Trudeau has faced increasing pressure to resign in recent months.
His approval rating has plummeted from 63 per cent when he was elected to 28 per cent in June, according to a poll tracker, amid concerns about unaffordable housing and rising living costs. His Liberals lost two key by-elections this summer in Toronto and Montreal.
A deal between his party and the NDP has kept him in power since Canada’s most recent federal election in 2021.
But the deal collapsed in early September after NDP leader Jagmeet Singh withdrew from the coalition, saying the Liberals were “too weak” and “too selfish” to govern.
Trudeau’s leadership has been under threat since then, with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre announcing he would bring a vote of no confidence.
The vote requires the approval of a majority of the 338 members of parliament (MP) to pass.
The Liberals, which hold 153 seats, are expected to vote against, while the Conservatives, which hold 119 seats, are likely to vote for.
Most of the remaining seats are held by the NDP and the Bloc Québécois — both of which have signaled they will vote against the party.
ReutersPierre Polievere, who is leading in many national polls, urged other MPs to vote in favor of the move by outlining his vision for Canada under a Conservative government.
He said his plan in parliament on Tuesday is to “bring back the promise of Canada, of a good paycheck that puts food on the table, gasoline on the table, affordable housing and safe neighbourhoods.”
But Singh, the NDP leader, said he would vote against Poilievre’s move because he believes the Conservatives would cut social programs like dental and pharmaceutical care if they came to power.
The Bloc Québécois — a party that aims to represent the interests of Quebec, Canada’s French-speaking province — says it believes it can work with the Liberal government to ensure Quebec-focused social programs.
Earlier this week, Trudeau attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where he appeared as a guest on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday.
In his interview with Colbert, Trudeau admitted that Canadians are going through “really tough times” and struggling to pay for gas, groceries and rent.
But he defended his leadership, saying his government has invested in Canadians and will continue to do so.
“I will continue to fight,” he said.
