It will ensure that at least two opposition parties will attempt to bring down the government
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OTTAWA — A handful of Liberals are signalling that their party will be voting against the Bloc Québécois motion to increase old age pension payments for all seniors, which would ensure that at least two opposition parties will attempt to bring down the government.
The Conservatives have already tried to bring down the government with two unsuccessful non-confidence motions this fall session, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has said his party will decide on a case-by-case basis.
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Speaking to reporters before the Liberal caucus meeting, Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault said that he “personally” would be voting against the Bloc’s motion.
Because all members of cabinet are required to support the governmental decisions, Boissonnault’s position would mean that all ministers would be voting against the motion. When asked if that was the case, Boissonnault only replied, “stay tuned.”
Other ministers remained tight-lipped when asked how they would vote. Public Works Minister Jean-Yves Duclos only said that the government’s position will be unveiled later in the day by his colleague Steven MacKinnon, who is Minister of Labour and Seniors.
The Liberal government is expected to allow its MPs a free vote on the Bloc bill.
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet is asking the federal government to grant a “royal recommendation” for his party’s bill — which would increase the Old Age Security (OAS) for all people aged 65 and cost about $16 billion over five years.
Because the bill involves public funds, a minister of the Crown must provide a royal recommendation before it is read a third time in the House of Commons and passed. If that is not the case, the Speaker must stop the proceedings and rule the bill out of order.
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Blanchet has given the government until October 29 to support his party’s bill, or he will begin talks with other opposition parties to bring down the government. But on Tuesday, he did not rule out calling for an election earlier if the Liberals are effectively killing his bill.
“The big question is: can we afford it? And my understanding is the cost is really astronomical and prohibitive, and part of the government’s job is to make choices in terms of priorities in terms of where you spend the money,” said Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski.
“I would think we’re voting against it,” he added.
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said the government’s focus should be on generational fairness and helping younger generations.
“It’s young people that are unable to access the housing market, it’s young people that aren’t able to afford rents, and they’re leaving their communities, and they’re leaving our country, and that should be our overriding focus,” he said.
“If we live or die on OAS… then we collectively are doing a disservice to young Canadians.”
The Liberals have already increased the OAS by 10 per cent for seniors 75 and over, which they say are more vulnerable since they usually have less savings and higher health care expenses, but the Bloc has long been advocating that it is unfair for people aged 65-74.
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In a speech in the House of Commons on Tuesday, MacKinnon said the Bloc should be “ashamed” for suggesting that his government created two classes of seniors.
“Never has a Canadian government been there more for seniors than this government formed by the Liberal Party of Canada. Today, the Bloc Québécois is being mistrustful, cynical, hypocritical and opportunistic,” he said.
National Post
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