Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, remains the key figure keeping Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power. Despite his vocal criticisms of the Liberal government, Singh has failed to prioritize Canadians by continuing to prop up a failing and reckless government. This week, Singh had another chance to do the right thing by voting non-confidence in Trudeau, triggering the election Canadians have long been calling for. This latest non-confidence motion offered Singh the opportunity to align his actions with his words and demonstrate the type of leader he truly is. But he still chose to vote against it.
Back in September, during a by-election in Elmwood—Transcona, near Winnipeg in Manitoba, Singh made a public display of distancing himself from Trudeau by "ripping up" the supply and confidence agreement the NDP had with the Liberals. At the time, Singh boldly declared, “The fact is, the Liberals are too weak, too selfish, and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people.” Despite this strong rhetoric, Singh has continued to support the Liberal government in multiple non-confidence votes over the past few months, choosing not to push for an election. This is despite repeated opportunities to fulfill his promises and hold the Liberals accountable for their failures.
This latest non-confidence motion is particularly significant, as it directly quoted Singh's criticism of the Liberal government. Yet, despite his harsh words, Singh voted against the motion, demonstrating a clear disconnect between his public condemnation of the Liberals and his continued support for their leadership. This raises a critical question: Why does Singh continue to back a government he claims to despise? The answer is money. Singh is set to qualify for a Member of Parliament pension in February 2025, and if the government lasts that long, he could stand to receive a potential lifetime payout of $2.3 million, according to the Canadian Taxpayer Federation.
While one would like to think of the idea that Singh would prioritize his pension over the well-being of Canadians as far-fetched, the repeated pattern of his actions suggests otherwise. By keeping the Liberal-NDP coalition in power, Singh is complicit in policies that have worsened the financial strain on Canadians. Under this government, housing costs, rent, and mortgage payments have doubled, while down payments have become unaffordable for many. The carbon tax, which Singh has voted for over 24 times, is a major factor in driving up costs for gas, groceries, and home heating. And yet, Trudeau and Singh plan to quadruple the carbon tax, further burdening Canadians who are already struggling to make ends meet.
The result of this coalition is a growing crisis of affordability. Food bank use has reached an all-time high, with 2 million visits in a single month. Shockingly, 18% of food bank users are employed workers, underscoring a grim reality where even people with jobs cannot afford the soaring costs created by government policies. Canadians, once proud to have one of the wealthiest middle classes in the world, are now facing the reality of food insecurity and housing instability. Ironically, many of those who once donated to food banks are now relying on them to feed their families.
Singh’s failure to act in the best interests of Canadians demonstrates a lack of leadership and moral compass. Canadians deserve leaders who prioritize their paychecks, stable housing, and affordable living conditions, not leaders who prioritize their own financial security. If Singh truly believes in putting Canadians first, he must seize this moment and vote non-confidence in the Trudeau Government, allowing for an election for Canadians to make a choice about their future. This is needed in Battle River—Crowfoot and across Canada.
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