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91ƵTough conversations91Ƶ: NDP retreat to shine spotlight on deal with Liberals

Deal supposed to last until June, but Liberal rail dispute action raising questions about its future
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NDP MP for Hamilton Centre Matthew Green rises during Question Period in Ottawa on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The NDP91Ƶs supply and confidence deal with the Liberals in Ottawa will get heavy scrutiny when leader Jagmeet Singh meets with his caucus in Montreal next week, with the Liberals91Ƶ decision last month to force binding arbitration to end a work stoppage at the country91Ƶs major railroads potentially triggering the end of the pact.

Liberal House Leader Karina Gould insisted last week that the deal will last until its planned end point next June. However NDP labour critic Matthew Green says the NDP has been re-evaluating the deal after Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration less than 24 hours after Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National Railway locked out their workers after failing to reach a contract deal at the bargaining table.

Singh called it 91Ƶa line in the sand that was crossed.91Ƶ

It91Ƶs now clear the future of the agreement will be front and centre when NDP members of Parliament meet in Montreal to plan their fall strategy before the House of Commons resumes on Sept. 16.

91ƵWhen it comes to our caucus retreat there91Ƶs going to be some tough conversations around the table about the future of that agreement and about the needs of Canadians in a move forward basis,91Ƶ said Green in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Green said as Canada91Ƶs only labour party the NDP has a responsibility to take 91Ƶbold steps91Ƶ to ensure there91Ƶs support for workers and their families, and others who are 91Ƶstruggling in this economy.91Ƶ

91ƵEverything is on the table. And I would aggressively say everything is on the table.91Ƶ

Singh and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau forged the confidence-and-supply agreement more than two years ago, with the New Democrats agreeing to keep the minority Liberal government in power until June of next year in exchange for movement on key priorities.

Many of the affordability measures the Liberals have brought in over recent years, including dental-care benefits, one-time rental supplements for low-income tenants and a temporary doubling of the GST rebate, were NDP priorities.

New Democrats have also used the deal to push forward items such as pharmacare and a ban on replacement workers during a strike or lockout at federally regulated workplaces.

The two parties also negotiated a housing accelerator fund that allocated billions of dollars to help build over 750,000 homes across Canada.

If the New Democrats pull out of the deal, it doesn91Ƶt mean it will trigger an election. The party would instead vote on Liberal legislation piece by piece.

MacKinnon declined to comment on the NDP91Ƶs plans to discuss the deal as a result of his actions in the rail lockout.

Gould91Ƶs office pointed to the comments she made last week about being 91Ƶconfident91Ƶ the deal will last to its end.

91ƵIt91Ƶs pretty clear she doesn91Ƶt have her finger on the pulse on how angry people are,91Ƶ Green said of Gould.

91ƵI can assure you we will not be taken for granted in that way, that the Liberals can just wish upon a star that somehow simply being there is going to keep them in government.91Ƶ

Most priorities in the deal have been achieved, with the exception of tabling a long-term care act to strengthen standards in care homes, and enacting certain electoral reforms.

While revisiting the deal, New Democrats will consider using it to 91Ƶfight for more91Ƶ from the Liberal government, said Green, specifically around supports for workers and their families.

91ƵGiven where we91Ƶre at today, there needs to be additional steps that would make that agreement worthwhile in the eyes of Canadians,91Ƶ he said.

The NDP retreat in Montreal comes just days before a federal byelection scheduled for a city riding on Sept. 16. The NDP hopes to flip the Liberal-held riding of LaSalle91ƵÉmard91ƵVerdun to orange. They last won the riding in 2011, though it has traditionally been a safe seat for the Liberals.

Last week Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a press conference calling for Singh to break the deal. He blamed him for selling out workers by signing onto a 91Ƶcostly coalition91Ƶ that he says puts Singh and Trudeau ahead of Canadians.

National opinion polls suggest Poilievre91Ƶs stance on workers rights and the economy is resonating with Canadians. He continues to hold a substantial lead in polls ahead of Liberals and New Democrats.





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