NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Vows to Topple Trudeau Government

Canada’s opposition leader said his caucus plans to vote against Justin Trudeau’s government. If the prime minister does not seek a temporary suspension of parliament, the country will be plunged into an election early next year.

If the NDP gains support from other major opposition parties, Trudeau’s government would be forced to step down, sparking an election shortly after Donald Trump’s expected return to the White House in Washington DC.

Trudeau’s Liberals currently lack a majority in the House of Commons and have relied on NDP backing to pass laws and remain in power. Singh and Trudeau previously agreed on a cooperation deal, but the NDP leader ended that arrangement in September.

Singh’s declaration came just before Trudeau unveiled changes to his cabinet, a move aimed at steadying his government following Chrystia Freeland’s surprising resignation as finance minister earlier in the week. Polls show the Liberals are unpopular, and Trudeau is under internal pressure to resign after Freeland’s departure.

“The Liberals don’t deserve another chance,” Singh said. “That’s why the NDP will vote to end this government and let Canadians choose new leadership.”

Trudeau is expected to consider his political future over the holidays, and parliament will reconvene on January 27.

One option for Trudeau is asking the governor-general to prorogue parliament, which would end the current session. This move could delay Singh’s non-confidence vote by postponing lawmakers’ return to Ottawa.

The new cabinet begins its term amid economic uncertainty, worsened by Trump’s threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods.

Dominic LeBlanc — who joined the prime minister at a dinner meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November — was sworn in as finance minister on Monday after Freeland quit.

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced changes to his Cabinet. He said the new cabinet will prioritize Canadians’ most important objectives: enhancing the economy and reducing the cost of living.

The team will continue to advance in housing, child care, and school food while striving to return more money to Canadians’ wallets, building on the investments made since 2015.

The changes to the cabinet are as follows:

• Anita Anand becomes Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
• Gary Anandasangaree becomes Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
• Steven MacKinnon becomes Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
• Ginette Petitpas Taylor becomes President of the Treasury Board

The Prime Minister also welcomed the following new members of his Cabinet:

• Rachel Bendayan becomes Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety
• Élisabeth Brière becomes Minister of National Revenue
• Terry Duguid becomes Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada
• Nate Erskine-Smith becomes Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
• Darren Fisher becomes Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
• David J. McGuinty becomes Minister of Public Safety
• Ruby Sahota becomes Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
• Joanne Thompson becomes Minister of Seniors.

These new ministers will work with all members of the Cabinet to deliver real, positive change for Canadians. They join the following ministers remaining in their portfolio:

• Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services
• Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
• François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
• Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant
• Karina Gould, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
• Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
• Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
• Mark Holland, Minister of Health
• Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development
• Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
• Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
• Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs
• Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
• Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
• Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
• Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
• Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
• Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
• Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
• Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage
• Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
• Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business
• Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
• Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources