TORONTO – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suffered a major setback on Wednesday when the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) withdrew support to the minority government of Liberal Party.

The move comes as the Canadians have shown increasing frustration over issues rising inflation and housing affordability crisis. The Liberals have been unable to secure a majority in the last two elections in 2019 and 2021, as Trudeau is in power since 2015.

Polls have been suggesting for months the Liberals are trailing around 18 points behind the Conservative Party of Canada. The NDP is placed third.

However, Trudeau, in his reaction, promised to continue governing and pushing through social programs.

In a video posted to social media, Jagmeet Singh of NDP described the Liberals as “too weak, too selfish” and thus couldn’t fight for Canadians.

He said the Liberals had “let people down” and didn’t “deserve another chance from Canadians”.

A no-confidence vote would be “on the table” with every confidence measure, he said, as losing a confidence vote in parliament can trigger a general election.

“The NDP is ready for an election,” Singh said.

WHAT WAS THE DEAL?

It was a “supply and confidence” agreement – had the NDP supporting the Liberal Party in confidence votes.

The two parties had reached the agreement in March 2022, with the Liberals pledging to support the NDP on several of the party’s key priorities in parliament.

It meant that the Liberals – who failed to win a majority in the past two elections – governed as a minority with the NDP supporting them in confidence votes.

The agreement meant that the NDP secured progress on key priorities, including dental benefits for lower-income families and a national pharmacare program covering birth control and insulin.

DIVIDED OVER WORKERS RIGHTS

The NDP began to re-evaluate the agreement last month, after Trudeau’s cabinet directed its industrial relations board to impose binding arbitration after the country’s two largest railways began a work stoppage.

Singh’s viewpoint shared in the social media post reflects these feelings prevalent in his party.

EARLY ELECTIONS?

The NDP’s move doesn’t automatically mean a federal election is imminent but that Canadians may go to the polls before the election scheduled for October 2025.

On Wednesday, Trudeau told reporters he was confident he could make parliament work and will focus on “delivering for Canadians”.

“I’ll let others focus on politics,” he said and he hoped the next election will not happen “until next fall” so that his government has time to move forward on its agenda.