Jagmeet Singh, the NDP leader who recently canceled a key agreement with the Liberals, joins political reporter Marieke Walsh. They dive into the reasons behind this significant move and its potential fallout. The conversation highlights the shifting power dynamics in Canadian politics and the political challenges faced by the Liberal party. They also discuss the implications for upcoming by-elections and the evolving relationship between the major parties as tensions rise and voter sentiment shifts.
Jagmeet Singh announced the end of the NDP's supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals, impacting future legislative support negotiations.
The NDP seeks to redefine its stance amid poor polling and criticism from Conservatives, while aiming to regain ground in upcoming by-elections.
Deep dives
End of the Supply and Confidence Agreement
The NDP leader announced the termination of the supply and confidence agreement with the Liberal minority government, effectively withdrawing guaranteed support. This agreement had allowed the NDP to influence policy in exchange for backing the Liberals on crucial votes, resulting in some policy wins like dental care. However, these achievements did not translate into improved political standing for the NDP, as there was no significant change in public polling. Now, the NDP will negotiate support on a case-by-case basis, leaving the Liberals to navigate a more arduous path for passing legislation in the House of Commons.
Implications for the Liberal Party
With the end of the agreement, the Liberals face a challenging political landscape as they can no longer count on the NDP for automatic support. This change could lead to slower legislative processes and increase the likelihood of a non-confidence vote, although an election is not immediately triggered by this action. The Prime Minister has downplayed the situation, claiming to focus on delivering policy promises while needing to reckon with the negative impacts of plummeting public opinion. The uncertainty surrounding their ability to pass measures, especially with a leader like Justin Trudeau struggling in the polls, adds to the pressure on the Liberals to stabilize their government.
NDP's Strategic Positioning
By distancing themselves from the Liberals, the NDP aims to mitigate criticism from the Conservatives, who have labeled them as sellouts for supporting an unpopular government. The decision to end the agreement is partly driven by polling dynamics; while the Liberals are faltering, the NDP has not gained support, with many progressive voters leaning towards the Conservatives. The party's leadership recognizes the need to provide a clear narrative to explain their position while maintaining the option for conditional support for the Liberals in the House of Commons. The upcoming by-elections also serve as a critical test for the NDP's strategy moving forward, particularly as they seek to regain footing in key ridings against both Liberal and Conservative challengers.
Since March 2022, the NDP has been propping up the Liberals in a supply and confidence agreement, that saw both parties support each other and strike deals to pass legislation. That agreement was originally meant to hold until June 2025, before the party breaks for a scheduled election that fall. But that relationship is now over. On Wednesday, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh released a video saying he’s ‘ripping up’ that agreement early.
Marieke Walsh is a senior political reporter for the Globe. She’s on the show to talk about why the NDP is pulling their support now, and what this move means for the major federal parties.
This episode includes an updated clip from September 4, 2024