OTTAWA, Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau narrowly survived a vote of no confidence on Wednesday, securing his minority Liberal government for now.
The vote, which ended with 211 against and 120 in favor of the Conservative-led motion, was Trudeau’s first major political test after nine years in power. However, his government remains vulnerable as opposition parties, particularly the Conservatives, aim to challenge his leadership again soon.
The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, has been pushing for a snap election, accusing Trudeau of failing to address critical issues such as the rising cost of living, a housing crisis, and increasing national debt. Poilievre emphasized that “the promise of Canada, after nine years of Liberal government, is broken.” He is eager for another attempt to unseat the Liberals, as early as next week.
Despite the Conservative pressure, Trudeau was able to avoid another crisis shortly after the no confidence vote, as the New Democratic Party (NDP) sided with the Liberals to pass legislation on capital gains taxes. However, the NDP’s recent departure from their coalition agreement with the Liberals, which was supposed to keep Trudeau’s government in power until 2025, leaves his administration in a fragile state.
With an Angus Reid poll showing Conservatives leading with 43% against the Liberals’ 21%, the situation remains precarious. While an election could happen soon, experts believe Trudeau may survive until 2025, though continuous threats from opposition parties could complicate governance in the months ahead.
