Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet joined other opposition parties on Tuesday after Ottawa failed to deliver what he had hoped would be some pension increases and more protection for the supply-managed agriculture sector. He said they would work together to overthrow the Liberal government.
After the NDP withdrew from the Liberal-backed deal, Blanchett broke into support for the Liberals and said if they passed two bloc private member’s bills that would increase retirement security payments for people in the following age groups: He said he would support the Liberal Party in a vote of no confidence. 65 and 74, exempting dairy products, poultry, and eggs from future trade negotiations.
He gave the government an October 29 deadline to enact both bills.
Today is that day, and since this bill is not law, Blanchett is moving forward with an alternative plan. In other words, they are trying to overthrow this minority government.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has called off his efforts to oust the minority Liberal government after the party failed to meet his party’s deadline to pass legislation to protect supply management industries and increase retirement benefits. He said he would start.
“I can say that the life of this government will depend on the NDP’s actions,” Blanchet told reporters, referring to the possibility that the NDP would once again join forces with the Liberals to block the election.
“This government’s term has passed and it is up to the people of Quebec and Canada to form a new parliament,” Blanchet said in French. “The only deal we need right now is to shower the Liberals in the shower.”
Mr Blanchett said he would vote against the government whenever another no-confidence vote was held. He also said there was an outside chance his party would provide some support if the Liberals were to deliver pension increases or trade protections in the future.
But Blanchett said the bloc would no longer negotiate with the government because the deadline had been exceeded. Rather, he said, “We are negotiating with the opposition parties to bring down the government.”
Given that the Liberals have little control of the Senate, where the Supply Management Bill is currently being debated, it is always unlikely that the government will be able to implement the bloc’s demands in such a short period of time.
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau changed Senate appointments, the government has less, if any, influence over what the Senate does and when.
The House of Commons is also paralyzed by a filibuster over the government’s refusal to release documents related to a failed green technology plan. Lawmakers have done little in the chamber in recent weeks.
Prime Minister Trudeau, his cabinet and some Liberal MPs also voted against a block motion that sought to force the government to apply “royal advice” to the pension bill. Under Canada’s parliamentary system, private members’ bills cannot force the government to spend more without cabinet approval.
The pension bill raises serious questions about intergenerational equity, given how much Ottawa already spends on senior benefits, which are the largest and fastest-growing part of the federal budget. .
Older age benefit costs are projected to rise from $80 billion this year to $100 billion a year by 2028-29, but this figure does not take into account the 10% pension hike proposed by EU countries. Not yet.
But Bullock defended his push to increase pensions, saying seniors need a little more cash flow.
Blanchet also said it would be “discriminatory” for the government to push through with a 10% OAS increase for people aged 75 and over, while leaving younger people without the increase.
Mr Blanchett said that because the Liberals had not delivered on either proposal, “the government is at serious risk of collapse”.
“I’m ready to vote. I’m definitely ready to vote tomorrow,” he said.
“I would say we are eagerly anticipating that.”
With NDP support, the Liberal government can still survive.
This means that the two opposition leaders are ready to vote.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poièvre has ruled out supporting the government at all, having tried to topple it with three no-confidence votes so far this year.
But the bloc’s decision to withdraw its support and join forces with the Conservative Party against the government does not necessarily mean a call for an election is imminent. The Liberals could still remain in power if the NDP gives them the support they need.
The Liberal Party holds 153 of the 338 seats in parliament.
To win a majority of 169 MPs without Conservative support, the Liberals need support from either the NDP (25 MPs) or the Bloc (33 MPs).
Just having the Conservatives (119 MPs) and the Bloc voting together is not enough to defeat the government, the NDP needs to be on its side.
