Singh takes questions a day after axing deal with Liberals, creating uncertainty in Canadian politics

New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh, seen speaking in the foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa on June 13, 2024, severed the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals on Wednesday. (Patrick Doyle/Canadian Press - image credit)
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh, seen speaking in the foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa on June 13, 2024, severed the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals on Wednesday. (Patrick Doyle/Canadian Press - image credit)

A day after breaking his political pact with the Liberal government, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will take questions from reporters about why — and what's next.

On Wednesday, Singh announced in a social media video that he was terminating the supply-and-confidence agreement his party struck with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2022. The move stirs up uncertainty in Canadian politics, and  could lead to a federal election earlier than planned.

The agreement, which was scheduled to run until June 2025, committed the NDP to supporting the minority Liberal government on confidence votes in exchange for legislative commitments on NDP priorities, such as dental care benefits, one-time rental supplements for low-income tenants and a temporary doubling of the GST rebate.

But some of the promises the Liberal government made to the NDP have yet to be fully realized.

Pharmacare legislation hasn't passed the Senate and a bill to implement Elections Act changes is still before the House. A promised Safe Long-Term Care Act has yet to be tabled.

Speaking in Rocky Harbour, N.L., after Singh made his announcement, Trudeau said his government is more focused on tackling the affordability crisis and climate change.

"These are the things that we're focused on. I'll let others focus on politics," Trudeau said.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called Singh's announcement a "stunt" and criticized him for not saying whether he would vote non-confidence in the government.

In a media release accompanying his announcement, Singh said "the NDP is ready for an election, and voting non-confidence will be on the table with each and every confidence measure."

Singh will take questions around 11:15 a.m. ET in Toronto.