Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Survives No-Confidence Vote. What’s Next For Him

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau managed to secure his chair on Wednesday, winning a vote of confidence after his main political rival failed to muster enough support to end nine years of Liberal Party rule. Legislators in Canada’s House of Commons voted 211-120 to defeat a motion moved by the official opposition Conservative party declaring a lack of confidence in Trudeau’s minority Liberal government.

“Today was a good day for the country because I don’t think Canadians want an election,” a report by Reuters quoted Karina Gould, the senior Liberal in charge of government business in the House, as saying.

Mounting Troubles For Justin Trudeau 

However, Trudeau, whose popularity within the country has taken a major hit amid rising inflation and the housing crisis, is still not free from a different share of challenges. He became politically vulnerable this month after former ally New Democratic Party backed out of a 2022 deal to keep him in power until an election scheduled for October-end in 2025.

Adding to Trudeau’s troubles, the leader of the separatist Bloc Quebecois on Wednesday said he would work to bring down the government unless it quickly agreed to the Bloc’s demands. Moreover, the Liberals in a day or two will also face a second vote on one of its budget measures, which is also a matter of confidence.

As per recent opinion polls, the right-of-centre Conservatives have a big lead against the Liberals ahead of an election next year. The Conservatives are demanding an election at the earliest on the grounds that Canadians cannot afford a planned increase in the federal carbon tax. They also claim that federal spending and crime have increased under the Liberal government.

“Enough is enough. Costs are up, taxes are up, crime is up, and time is up,” the Conservatives said in a statement, as per the Reuters report.

Meanwhile, acknowledging public unhappiness, Trudeau has accused the Conservatives of playing politics rather than focusing on people’s needs.