Poilievre makes case for taking down the government to restore 'promise of Canada'
Bloc Québécois and NDP have already said they will not support non-confidence motion
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urged MPs to defeat the Liberal government Tuesday, but opposition parties are turning the debate over his non-confidence motion into a debate about the Conservative Party's policies instead.
Poilievre introduced his promised non-confidence motion in the opening minutes of the House of Commons sitting Tuesday, delivering a campaign-style speech laying out his vision for Canada under a Conservative government.
He said his plan is "to bring home the promise of Canada, of a powerful paycheque that earns affordable food, gas and homes and safe neighbourhoods, where anyone, from anywhere, can do anything. The biggest and most open land of opportunity the world has ever seen: that is our vision."
Polls have favoured the Conservatives for more than a year now and if they hold true for the next election, it could result in a Conservative majority government.
Poilievre told the House if that happens he would lower taxes and eliminate the price on carbon, instead fighting climate change by approving large-scale green projects and using the revenues to reduce government debt.
"We will cap government spending with a dollar-for-dollar law that requires we find $1 of savings for every new dollar of spending," Poilievre said.
"We will cut bureaucracy, waste and consulting contracts."
Poilievre and his party have not said exactly where those cuts will land, but they're the reason cited by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh for his party's decision not to vote to bring down the government.
"We are going to fight today against Conservative cuts and against the Conservative motion," NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told the House.
Debate on the motion will conclude Tuesday, with the vote scheduled to take place Wednesday afternoon.
Both the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois indicated last week they would not support the non-confidence motion because they don't support the Conservatives. If they vote no, the motion will be defeated and the Liberal government will survive its first test since its supply and confidence deal with the NDP fell apart.
If the motion were to pass, the government would be defeated and Canadians very likely would see an immediate election.
Bloc Québécois MPs have said they'd rather use the opportunity to negotiate with the Liberals, rather than trigger an election that likely would install Poilievre as prime minister.
"We listen to the Conservatives and are not sure that we're so eager to see them take power," the Bloc's House leader Alain Therrien told the House in French on Tuesday.
He said Poilievre has no plan to address the challenges of Quebec's distinct society.
"There are situations in Quebec that are quite different from the rest of Canada," he said.
The Bloc has asked the Liberals to approve funding for their private member's bill to raise pension payments for seniors under the age of 75.
The government hasn't committed to doing that. The parliamentary budget officer has estimated the proposed change would cost about $16 billion over five years.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not in the House for the debate and is instead representing Canada at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He was asked about the non-confidence motion after U.S. President Joe Biden used his speech at the UN to reflect on his decision to withdraw from his party's ticket in the upcoming election.
"The Conservatives are very much thinking about power right now," Trudeau said in response.
"I'm thinking about how we can best help Canadians. I'm thinking about how to put the best balance sheet in the G7 in service of Canadians, to invest in Canadians. Confident countries invest in their citizens. Right now, Pierre Poilievre is offering cuts."
The Conservatives have another chance to introduce a non-confidence motion on Thursday during a second opposition day in the House of Commons. There are a total of seven opposition days required this fall, five of which go to the Conservatives.
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