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NDP MP Angus Considers Defying Party on Non-Confidence Vote


NDP MP Charlie Angus states that he is willing to go against his party and vote against a non-confidence motion that could topple the Liberal government and lead to an election.

“I will not side with Pierre Poilieve to push for an election as his views contradict my beliefs,” he expressed in a Dec. 28 Facebook post.

The New Democrat MP raised concerns about the upcoming inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened Canada with 25 percent tariffs, viewing it as a significant threat to the nation and calling for prioritizing the country’s interests. “There are times when we must prioritize the country,” Angus emphasized.

“Canadians deserve a strategic plan, not political games. I will return to Parliament to do my utmost,” he added.

Angus responded to a social media post by The Globe and Mail’s Robert Fife, noting that the NDP intends to present its own non-confidence motion at the public accounts committee. The Conservatives plan to reconvene the committee early next year to propose a non-confidence motion, which could be voted on in the House of Commons by Jan. 30.

A successful non-confidence motion would require support from the Conservatives, NDP, and Bloc Québécois.

Conservative MP and Committee Chair John Williamson has stated that if any Liberal committee members try to filibuster and delay the motion’s approval, he will organize extra meetings in January to address this.

In the previous session of Parliament, the Conservatives presented three non-confidence motions attempting to overthrow the Liberal government for an election, all of which failed. While the New Democrats opposed all three motions, their leader Jagmeet Singh announced on Dec. 20 that the party would propose a non-confidence motion early in 2025 to bring down the government.

Singh’s decision came after a chaotic week that saw Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland stepping down from her position just before presenting the Fall Economic Statement. This prompted calls from all major party leaders and multiple Liberal MPs to urge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign. Additionally, the Atlantic Liberal caucus has also demanded Trudeau’s resignation in the weeks following.
The NDP previously had a supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals, where they supported the governing party in crucial confidence votes in exchange for NDP-preferred legislation. However, Singh terminated the agreement on Sept. 4, stating that future confidence motion votes would be decided on a case-by-case basis by the party.

In April 2024, Angus, alongside other NDP MPs, declared that they would not seek re-election. Angus, elected to Parliament in 2004, attributed this decision to forthcoming changes in his constituency that would add an extra 20,000 square kilometers of territory.



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