The Conservative Party in Canada announced plans to force a non-confidence vote against the governing Liberals almost immediately after the House returns in late January.
On Friday, Conservative MP John Williamson, who chairs the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, stated that he scheduled a Jan. 7 meeting for members to vote on “moving a motion of non-confidence in the Liberal Government to the House of Commons as soon as it returns following the winter break.”
The House of Commons is currently adjourned for the holidays, and is scheduled to resume sitting on Monday, January 27, 2025.
“Conservatives will move a simple and straightforward motion, stating that the Committee report to the House the following recommendation: That the House has no confidence in the Prime Minister and the Government,” a CPC statement reads.
The development comes one week after NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said he plans to propose a non-confidence motion himself. Singh’s statement came just after the House broke for the winter holiday break, and after he voted against multiple non-confidence motions, leading many to call Singh out for blatant hypocrisy.
Without this procedural tool through the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, the Liberals had the ability to prevent non-confidence motions until late February.
Now, speculation that Trudeau will prorogue parliament has picked up. Prorogation would involve ending the current session of Parliament, giving Trudeau power to avoid immediate confidence votes that could lead to an election.
About 20 of Trudeau Liberal MPs have called on their leader to step down. The Prime Minister is reportedly “reflecting” on whether or not to resign amid party turmoil, with ministers jumping ship left and right, and his Finance Minister publicly accusing him of “costly political gimmicks.”
