It’s a deal touted “to work for Canadians” based on the last election outcome of a minority liberal government at the federal level.
Justin Trudeau’s Liberals and NDP, lead by Jagmeet Singh, are now joined at the hip in parliament.
This new deal is called a “confidence-and-supply” agreement, it means that the NDP agrees to support the Libs on specific measures and with conditions, and to not vote to defeat the government.
The Liberal leader said that the agreement is to support issues that both parties agree on, and not ones that they don’t.
For example, both parties are going to work towards better pharmacare, more affordable housing, but the big one is the NDP’s main platform of low income dental supports.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he is going into this because he wants people to get help, “That is my team’s priority, that is my priority. We want people to get help. We want people to be able to fix their teeth. We want people to be able to afford medication. We want people to be able to find a home and we want to do our part to fight the climate crisis. These are all priorities for us and we want this to work. But our tool is if it doesn’t work, then we withdraw our support and the deal is off.”
The Prime Minister’s office released a statement on the agreement outlining the new plan for how the low income dental program would be rolled out.
- Starting in 2022 children that are 12 years old would be covered
- Then those 18yrs and under, as well as seniors and persons living with a disability in 2023
- With full implementation being rolled out in 2025
The dental program would only be available to families that make $90,000 or less annually, with no co-pays for anyone under $70,000 annually in income.
Singh says this is the start of an important journey, but he stresses he is a New Democrat, not a Liberal, “Never intended to to join the government. We will be opposing the government, when they do things that we disagree with, so we will remain an independent party and the opposition party, with the ability to hold this government to account, and to oppose the government, where we see necessary.”
Singh adds that Canadians don’t want the threat of another election every time there is a confidence vote, and this agreement will help provide Canadians with some stability.
Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen called this move nothing more than a callous attempt by Trudeau to hold on to power.
“Canadians did not vote for an NDP government. This is little more than backdoor socialism. Trudeau is truly polarizing politics which is what he likes. This is an NDP-Liberal attempt at government by blackmail. Nation-building is replaced by vote-buying; secret deal-making over parliamentary debate; and opportunism over accountability. With rising inflation, out-of-control cost of living, and national unity at stake, Trudeau knows he is losing the confidence of Canadians. His answer is to stay in power at all costs including implementing the even harsher and more extreme policies of the NDP. If this NDP-Liberal coalition stands, Canada is in for a very rough ride.”
This agreement provides the Liberals with a majority government, and when asked about his political future Trudeau said he plans on running in the next election come 2025.
With files from Katie Nicholls, Kevin Jeffrey and Tara Clow
