Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, following his resignation announcement, made a last-ditch effort to secure support from opposition leaders to extend his government’s tenure for a few weeks. According to sources, Trudeau personally reached out to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, requesting their backing on upcoming budget appropriations — a critical vote of confidence set for late March.
Trudeau’s goal was to keep his minority government afloat long enough for the Liberal Party to elect a new leader, a process now set to conclude on March 9. The effort, however, met firm resistance. Both the Bloc and the NDP refused to support the government, citing their commitments to bringing it down at the first opportunity.
During his conversation with Jagmeet Singh, Trudeau emphasized the opportunity to expand federal dental and drug insurance programs under an extended Liberal mandate. However, an NDP source dismissed the proposal, stating the government already possessed the powers to implement these programs and that Singh’s priorities lay elsewhere, including addressing economic concerns and the broader impacts of global politics.Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet was even more direct, asserting his party’s preference for immediate elections. With no support secured, the Liberals announced an accelerated leadership race to address the pressing timeline, with the new leader poised to take the helm just days before the March 26 budget vote.
The upcoming weeks are critical for the minority government. Without opposition support for budgetary appropriations, the government will fall, triggering an election. While a throne speech vote on March 24 could also result in a loss of confidence, experts suggest the government may find ways to delay or avoid this.
The Liberal Party’s new leader and prime minister will face tough decisions. They could outline their priorities during the throne speech or proceed directly to dissolve Parliament and call for elections. Either way, Trudeau’s efforts to buy time underscore the fragile state of his government in its final days.
