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NON-CONFIDENCE MOTION

Kamloops-area MP expresses doubts over federal NDP pledge for non-confidence motion

Dec 20, 2024 | 4:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — While Friday’s (Dec. 20) federal cabinet shuffle didn’t come as a surprise, Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo says talk of a non-confidence motion from the NDP was unexpected.

The same day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a number of new cabinet appointments, following the departure of former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, the NDP’s leader publicly stated his intention to bring forward a non-confidence motion in the next sitting.

If the motion goes through and a vote passes, it would trigger an early federal election. However, Frank Caputo says he has doubts that Jagmeet Singh will follow through. In three confidence votes that have taken place since September, the NDP have supported the Liberals.

“Jagmeet Singh used very pointed and specific language about the government and we put that language into a motion, and he voted against it. He and the NDP did, so I’m really questioning why here on… December 20, just 11 days later, they’re saying they’re going to bring down the government,” says Caputo.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has asked the governor general to speak with the prime minister about reconvening parliament immediately, and Caputo says if it is successful, that would be a way for the opposition parties to combine their non-confidence votes.

“I think them joining us in that call, saying, ‘We call for this to happen,’ it would be a small way, but a symbolic way to say we’re prepared to have an election. We’re prepared to have one right now,” he adds.