Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Faces Political Crisis as NDP Withdraws Support
Trudeau's Liberal government falls into minority as Jagmeet Singh's NDP exits coalition, early elections loom.
Ottawa – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finds himself in a political storm after the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Khalistan supporter Jagmeet Singh, withdrew its support from the Liberal government. The loss of this key ally has left Trudeau in a minority government, forcing him to seek new partnerships to stay in power. Opposition parties are now calling for early elections, though federal elections were originally scheduled for October next year.
Currently, Trudeau's Liberal Party holds 130 seats in the Canadian Parliament, nine short of the majority needed to govern. The Conservative Party, the leading opposition, has 119 seats, while the NDP holds 24 and the Bloc Québécois controls 32. With the NDP pulling its support, Trudeau will likely turn to the Bloc Québécois for assistance.
Later this month, Canada’s Parliament will reconvene, and Trudeau’s government will need to secure backing from other parties to pass its budget in the House of Commons. Should the Conservative Party introduce a vote of no-confidence, Trudeau will be forced to demonstrate support from another party to avoid being ousted. Political analysts speculate that if the Bloc Québécois refuses to back Trudeau, he may be left with no option but to resign and call for early elections.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, has become a central figure in this unfolding political drama. Born in the village of Thikriwala in Punjab’s Barnala district, Singh’s family has been in Canada since 1993. His NDP has been a key partner in Trudeau’s government since 2021, with their agreement known as the “Supply and Confidence” deal.
The deal was designed to ensure NDP support for the Liberal government in the event of a no-confidence vote. In exchange, the Liberals agreed to back the NDP's key priorities in Parliament, which included benefits for low-income families, a national pharmacare program, and laws preventing the use of replacement workers during strikes. However, tensions have recently emerged after two of Canada’s largest railways halted operations, prompting Trudeau's cabinet to impose mandatory arbitration. This decision caused the NDP to reassess its alliance with the Liberals.
The critical question now is: what options does Trudeau have left? Political observers suggest that Trudeau may be left with little choice but to step down and call for early elections if he cannot secure the support of the Bloc Québécois before Parliament resumes.
