Liberal cabinet minister Stephen Guilbeault said his party will not be “held hostage” by the Bloc Quebecois’ demands to extend Old Age Security (OAS) to more seniors.
“We are not going to be held hostage just to extend the life of a government that makes absolutely no sense from a fiscal or social point of view,” the Environment and Climate Change Minister said in an interview with CTV Questions. The period is broadcast on Sundays.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has faced two no-confidence motions filed by the Conservatives since the NDP ended its supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals in September, guaranteeing NDP support for shared priorities. are. Both were defeated.
With its newfound bargaining power, the Bloc Québécois has issued an ultimatum to the Liberal Party, giving it until October 29 to enact a pair of private members’ bills, or the Liberal Party will face opposition pressure to overthrow the government. The company plans to start cooperating with
The bills that Party Leader Yves-François Blanchebloc wants the government to pass are Bill C-319, which proposes a 10% increase in OAS payments for seniors aged 65 to 74, and protection of dairy products and eggs. This is Bill C-282. Poultry farmers are also expected to participate in future trade negotiations.
Last month, Bullock used the day of opposition in the autumn sittings to table a motion seeking royal endorsement of a private member’s bill to strengthen the OAS. The motion passed, but most Liberal MPs voted against it, citing concerns about cost and the way the policy was targeted.
Government House of Commons leader Karina Gould has since insisted the government remains open to the policy, but the vote would set a bad precedent.
However, Guilbeault completely rejected the possibility of doing what Brock wants with the OAS. He told host Vassie Kapelos that the Liberals were in favor of supporting seniors and were open to working with the bloc on other policies, but that any agreement “would not be what the bloc proposed.” Ta.
“Obviously I’m not personally involved in these conversations. I’m the environment minister. I’m not the seniors minister, but[the Liberals]have collectively talked about this. ” said Guilbeault.
He also called Brock’s proposal “fiscally irresponsible.”
“It’s going to cost $3 billion a year, and in many cases it’s going to end up in the hands of people who don’t need it,” Guilbeault said.
Former Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe speculated that Guilbeault’s comments meant an election would almost certainly be held before Christmas.
“Well, if that’s the case, we’ll have an election because the bloc has been very clear about that. The ultimatum is there,” he told CTV’s Questions, also on Sunday. he told Kapelos in an interview that aired on Period.
Duceppe also mentioned the possibility of Trudeau proroguing parliament, but Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Gould said that decision was not on the table and ultimately rested with the prime minister. I am doing it.
Duceppe led the bloc in 2008 when former Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended parliament for 53 days to prevent a rival coalition government.
“If they do a prologue, which means they want to be in government for Christmas, it will be their last Christmas,” Duceppe told Kapelos.
Duceppe said the bloc is “ready” in case elections are held early.
“They are well prepared in every region, in each election. So if the Liberals want an election, they will act,” Duceppe said.
Singh says there is “no discussion” with the prime minister
The Liberals’ reluctance to acquiesce to the Bloc’s demands leaves the NDP with the power to push through new priorities, as the Trudeau government only needs support from either the Bloc or the NDP to remain in power. are. But so far, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he hasn’t had any conversations with the premier.
“It is normal that there are ongoing discussions with the House leader, but there are no discussions between me and the prime minister,” Singh told reporters on Thursday. “I have not put anything on the table and the Prime Minister has not put it on the table.”
On Thursday, the Senate passed the Pharmacare Bill, the centerpiece of a previous political agreement between the Liberals and NDP. The law requires the federal government to sign agreements with states and territories to cover diabetes and contraceptives as part of the public health system.
With the bill passed, Singh is calling on the federal government to negotiate agreements with the states as soon as possible.
Asked whether the federal government’s progress on these agreements would determine the NDP’s future support, Singh did not directly respond.
“We are very clear about the vote of confidence. We will review the results from time to time,” Singh said on Friday. “But I’m letting people know now that after this bill, this historic bill, was passed, it became the law of the land. I want to see these agreements signed. I want to.”
With files from CTV News’ Spencer Van Dyke and Rachel Aiello.
