Liberals’ fate in NDP hands after Bloc deadline passes

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OTTAWA — Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said the Trudeau government’s days are numbered as he pledged to do everything in his power to overthrow it.

Now, the fate of the minority government is once again in the NDP’s hands, just two months after the party ripped up its supply and confidence deal with the Liberals.

Blanchet officially announced his intention to bring down the government after the Liberals failed to follow through on the Bloc’s recent ultimatum. The party wanted to see the passage of two bills by Tuesday that would have increased Old Age Security (OAS) benefits for seniors (ages 65 to 74) by 10 per cent and that would have protected supply management from international trade negotiations.

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Blanchet announced Tuesday that he had instructed his House leader to negotiate with the other opposition parties to force an election. Those discussions are starting now.

“(Trudeau’s) days are numbered… I’m ready for an election,” Blanchet said at a press conference on Parliament Hill.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged he’s had “very good conversations with Mr. Blanchet” in recent weeks and agreed his government should keep working for seniors.

“We’re going to continue to look for ways to deliver for Canadians in these difficult times and work constructively with everyone in the House,” Trudeau said.

Now that the Bloc and the Conservatives are on board to trigger an election, the NDP is the last party protecting the Liberals from Canadian voters. The Liberals are trailing the Conservatives by about 20 points in all national polls.

“We are not afraid of an election, but we are not looking for one,” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Monday. “A federal election is imminent, for sure. It is just a matter of time.”

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Blanchet said his party will try to convince the New Democrats to join him in bringing down the Liberals by emphasizing the “toxicity” of their relationship with the Liberals.

“I think the argument will be along the lines of ‘do you realize how much harm you’re doing to yourself by being the government’s suitcase carrier?’” he said.

However, it won’t be easy. Conservative and Bloc MPs have voted together on many occasions in the past. For example, they tried to remove House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus after he attended the Ontario Liberal Party convention. The Bloc and Conservatives failed to convince the NDP at the time.

“The Bloc Québécois is useless, brings nothing to Quebecers, is incapable of negotiating and it’s a failure for them,” said NDP deputy leader Alexandre Boulerice.

Some NDP MPs have already floated the idea of ​​keeping the Liberals in power until after the spring budget. Boulerice conceded that “it’s an option,” but added that the party is “always ready” to campaign.

“My photos are ready,” he said.

So what is the NDP waiting for?

“There are no conditions. At each vote, we’re going to look at what’s presented and whether it really helps people. I don’t have a list, we don’t negotiate, but we’re always ready to listen,” Boulerice said.

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In Ottawa, many Liberals and NDP members are wondering why Blanchet had to draw such a red line to keep the Liberals in power.

Trudeau’s Quebec lieutenant, Jean-Yves Duclos, went so far as to call it an “artificial ultimatum.”

“He said that starting today he would stop working for Quebecers. We will continue to work for Quebecers every day that we have the chance to do so,” said Duclos.

The minister added his government has “worked really well with the NDP over the last few years,” notably on dental care.

Government House leader Karina Gould refused to specifically comment on the Bloc’s threat and insisted that conversations are ongoing with all parties.

“Since the House has returned, I’ve been having productive conversations with all of the House leaders, and I’ll continue to do that,” she said on her way to cabinet.

Asked how the government could go forward now that another opposition party is threatening to overthrow the government, Gould said “there’s always a way.”