ottawa –
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchette said an ultimatum to the government remains in effect Wednesday after the Liberal Party voted against a motion to increase benefits for seniors.
Prime Minister Blanchett has given the government until October 29 to help pass a pair of bills or risk an election before the new year. Choosing not to take the big step to pass one of them raises new questions about how quickly the Liberals could lose a key dance partner in this precarious minority parliament. It happened.
In its only opposition day for months, the Bloc has called for the government to “take the necessary steps to ensure that the Royal Recommendation is accepted as soon as possible” against the private member’s bill, known as Bill C-319. there were. It proposes to increase Old Age Security (OAS) payments by 10% for seniors aged 65 to 74.
The non-legally binding motion still passed on a 181-143 vote Wednesday with support from other opposition parties, but despite majority support, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refused to give the bill the necessary fiscal authorization. Not forced to publish. Must be within the allowable range.
The bill is one of two bills that Blanchett has terminated on notice to the government. According to the rules of Parliament, because Bill C-319 is intended for the expenditure of public funds, a royal recommendation must be provided or the bill will be considered out of order.
Mr Blanchett’s line in the sand has seen significant progress with both Bill C-319 and Bill C-282, which will push the Conservative Party to seek supply management protections in future trade negotiations and otherwise topple the government. and will begin negotiations with the NDP.
Now, Blanchett said if the Liberals think they have time, they should think again.
“They need to comply with the King’s advice within the next few days. If not, we will begin discussions with other opposition parties as soon as next week to prepare for elections. ” said Blanchett. Said.
“What we saw today is not in itself evidence that it is not possible.Despite the motion, they may decide to give a royal recommendation…so even if But that’s not good news, and there’s a little bit more wariness about the election,” Blanchett added.
The Bloc could have made this week’s motion a matter of confidence, but the party’s deputy leader in the House of Commons said it was “meaningless” during CTV’s question period over the weekend while talks between the two parties continued. I didn’t.
Asked about the status of these talks in an interview on CTV News Channel’s Power Play on Wednesday, General Government House of Commons Leader Karina Gould said the Liberals were still trying to find a way forward with the bloc. I didn’t deny it.
“I don’t negotiate publicly or talk about those conversations, but I can say that when it comes to good ideas to support Canadians, our government is working together on behalf of Canadians.” I think so,” she said. Said. “We welcome good ideas.”
The Liberals confirmed their intention to vote hours before the vote, expressing concern about the strain on public funds and setting a precedent for authorizing billions of dollars in new spending through private members’ bills.
Mr Gould echoed comments made earlier in the day by Health Minister Mark Holland, who said: “It would not be appropriate for a motion against the date to set a precedent for obtaining a royal recommendation in this way.”
“There are still conversations we need to have to put this in the overall context of other discussions we are having. It’s the wrong mechanism to do it as a one-off,” Holland said. Said. “I think Brock will understand that.”
“It’s too expensive and not targeted.”
Other Liberal MPs and ministers pointed to the expected high cost of this OAS increase as a reason for their resistance, while pointing to other measures the government has put in place to support older people.
Congressional Budget Secretary Yves Giroux said in an interview with CTV’s Power Play last week that it might be “a little bit harder” for the federal government to meet its fiscal base if it acquiesces to the bloc’s demands to expand the OAS. Ta.
Giroux calculates that demand carries a price tag of more than $3 billion annually, with a total cost of $16.1 billion over five years.
“I think the question is how do we better support vulnerable older people? We have older people in our country who are doing really well,” Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said on Wednesday. That’s great for them.”
“The question is how do we use public resources to continue to support older people who really need and deserve support?”
As on Wednesday, the Conservatives, NDP and Greens all voted in favor of the bloc’s proposed changes to the OAS during the second reading of the bill last October. The only MPs who voted against it were the Liberal Party and one independent.
“The big question is can we afford it? I understand that the cost is really astronomical and exorbitant. Part of the government’s job is to prioritize It’s about making choices in terms of where we spend our money. And unfortunately, we don’t have enough money,” Liberal MP Marcus Pawlowski said.
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith expressed similar concerns. “It costs too much and it’s not targeted enough,” he said on his way home from the Freedom Caucus on Wednesday.
“Given today’s fiscal environment and the needs of low-income people, people who are struggling to pay rent, people who are struggling to buy groceries, new taxpayer money, we “If someone now thinks it’s beneficial to spend tax dollars that Americans don’t spend, but not for seniors making more than $120,000, Block should explain that logic to me.” and referred to the income thresholds required for seniors to qualify for the monthly payments.
What happens if the Liberal Party loses Bloc support?
If the Liberals lose the bloc’s support, the Conservatives will seek continued support as they have already voted no confidence in Trudeau twice less than a month after the start of the fall parliamentary session. It will be only the NDP.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters ahead of question period that future votes, where his party could be the Liberals’ only remaining dance partner, would be handled on a case-by-case basis. He said his intention to do so remains unchanged.
“We are not currently in any discussions with the Liberal Party. Based on every vote submitted to us, we will fight as hard as we can to get the most for our people.” “We intend to do so, but there are no negotiations or conversations about anything specific,” Singh said.
Blanchet said it was “remarkable” that the NDP voted in favor of the block motion, adding, “If we take the next step without the government and Canadians providing, ultimately the outcome of such a vote will be There is a possibility that they will take over the matter,” he added. , and the people of Quebec, what we want. ”
The NDP leader will also have a turn in the coming weeks to choose a motion to oppose and force it to be considered and voted on in the House of Commons. Mr Singh gave no hint on Wednesday whether he would use the opportunity to introduce a no-confidence motion.
“A lot of things can happen,” Blanchet said, laying out various scenarios that could unfold as this session progresses, from the NDP continuing to support the Liberals to Trudeau potentially proroguing parliament. Outlined.
With files from CTV News’ Spencer Van Dyke
