What the Liberal, NDP confidence deal by Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh means for Canadians
The Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party have come to a agreement in a confidence deal that would keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government in power with a minority government until 2025, in exchange for advancing key NDP policies.
"With so much instability around us, Canadians need stability," Trudeau said on Tuesday.
We are different political parties, we stand for different things, but...we cannot let our differences stand in the way of delivering what Canadians deserve.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
"Both parties have identified key policy areas where we share similar objectives and we’ve agreed to work together to put the needs and interests of Canadians first."
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said this decision is evidence of the party using its "power" to "get help to people."
"This is our obligation, I got into politics to help people," Singh said.
This is not a destination but a starting point and we are going to continue to fight, we're not going to let the Liberals off the hook, we're going to continue to fight to make sure people get the help they need.NDP leader Jagmeet Singh
What does this deal between the Liberal and NDP parties include?
This deal means that the NDP have agreed to support the Liberals on confidence and budgetary matters as the Liberals continue to govern for the duration of the agreement, until June 2025.
In terms of committees, the Liberal and NDP have agreed to "communicate regarding any issues which could impede the government’s ability to function or cause unnecessary obstructions to legislation review, studies and work plans at committees."
Both party leaders will meet at least once a quarter and have agreed to monthly "stock-take" meetings by an oversight group, consisting of staff and politicians, to discuss progress and possible future issues that may arise.
What policies did the NDP, Liberals agree to prioritize?
The Liberals and NDP agree to seven key policies that will be prioritized moving forward, they include:
A better healthcare system
A new dental care program for families with an income of less than $90,000 annually, beginning with children under 12 in 2022, expanding to under 18-year-olds, seniors and persons living with a disability in 2023 and fully implemented for everyone by 2025
Passing a Canada Pharmacare Act by the end of 2023 to progress towards a universal national pharmacare program
Tabling a Safe Long-Term Care Act
Making life more affordable for people
Implementing a Homebuyer’s Bill of Rights by the end of 2023
A $500 one-time top-up to Canada Housing Benefit in 2022, to be renewed if cost of living "challenges" remain
Introducing an Early Learning and Child Care Act by the end of 2022 to prioritizes non-profit and public spaces for affordable child care opportunities
Tackling the climate crisis and creating good paying jobs
Identifying ways to accelerate progress towards net-zero emissions no later than 2050
Developing a plan to phase out public financing of the fossil fuel sector
2022 home energy efficiency programs to enhance energy affordability for Canadians and reduce emissions, with investments to support low-income and multi-unit residential apartments
A better deal for workers
10 days of paid sick leave for all federally regulated workers starts as soon as possible in 2022
Introducing legislation by the end of 2023 to prohibit the use of replacement workers when a union employer has locked out employees or is in a strike
Reconciliation
Additional investment in Indigenous housing in 2022
Accelerating the implementation of the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People with Indigenous partners
Support First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities who wish to continue burial searches at the former sites of residential schools
A fairer tax system
Tax changes on financial institutions who have made strong profits during the pandemic
Implementing a publicly accessible beneficial ownership registry by the end of 2023
Making democracy work for people
Expanding “Election Day” to three days of voting
Allowing people to vote at any polling place within their Electoral District and improving mail-in ballots system
Ensuring Quebec’s number of seats in the House of Commons remains constant
'Cooked up a backroom deal'
Following the announcement of this deal, interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen responded by saying the party learned the NDP and Liberals "cooked up a backroom deal."
"This deal means that Canadians have woken up to, in essence, an NDP-Liberal majority government," Bergen told reporters on Tuesday.
82 per cent of voters did not vote for a Liberal-NDP government,...these Canadians woke up this morning to the fact that they have been hoodwinked and they have be deceived by their prime minister.Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen
"Let me be clear, this is nothing more than a Justin Trudeau power grab. He is desperately clinging to power. His number one goal, as we have seen over the course of the last six years, is always to do what's best for him, not to do what's best for Canadians."
She went on to say that "the NDP are in charge," which marks "the decimation of Canadian oil and gas and LNG."
"That means that, that is really a way to prop up [Vladimir] Putin and Russia," the interim Conservative Leader said.
"There is, I'm sure, a lot of despair in the West right now around this decision and so, we are going to spend the next little while reaching out to millions of Canadians, including those who have not voted Conservative, to let them know that we will continue to be their voice here in Ottawa."
