OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau easily survived a vote of confidence on Wednesday after his main political rival failed to muster enough support to end nine years of Liberal Party rule. Trudeau, whose popularity has slumped amid unhappiness over rising prices and a housing crisis, became more politically vulnerable this month when the smaller New Democratic Party tore up a 2022 deal to keep him in power until an election scheduled for end-October 2025. “Today was a good day for the country because I don’t think Canadians want an election,” said Karina Gould, the senior Liberal in charge of government business in the House.

Despite surviving the vote, other challenges loom for Trudeau with the main opposition Conservatives vowing to try again to topple the government as early as Tuesday. Following a heated debate that saw members of Parliament trade insults and slam their fists on desks, they voted 211 to 120 against the Conservative motion to unseat the Liberals. Far ahead in public opinion polls, Tory leader Pierre Poilievre has been itching for a snap election since the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP) earlier this month tore up a coalition agreement with the Liberals, leaving the Trudeau administration vulnerable to being toppled.

A combative Poilievre railed against Trudeau for what he said was a failure to address soaring costs of living, a housing crisis and crime, while doubling the national debt. The promise of Canada, “after nine years of Liberal government, is broken,” he said during a Commons debate on Tuesday. But other opposition parties, whose support is needed to bring down the Liberals, have pushed back against his right-wing agenda. After the vote, Liberal House leader Karina Gould accused the Tories of “playing games.” “We are going to get back to work and do the hard work of governing this country,” she added.

Try, try again

Immediately following the no-confidence vote, the NDP again sided with the Liberals to pass legislation on capital gains taxes, averting another political crisis. Poilievre vowed to keep trying, with the next opportunity to bring down the government to be presented next week. If that fails, he will have a few more chances before the end of the year. The separatist Bloc Quebecois has also demanded concessions from the ruling Liberals for its continued support in parliament beyond the end of October.

During an appearance in New York on the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” TV program on Monday evening, Trudeau acknowledged that Canadians are facing “a really tough time.” “People are hurting. People are having trouble paying for groceries, paying for rent, filling up the tank,” and “are looking at change,” he said. The deal with the New Democratic Party to prop up the Liberals would have kept his government in office until late 2025. But the NDP, seeing its alignment with the Liberals hurting its own popularity, exited the pact early.

Provocative, adept at catchphrases and a champion of an anti-establishment discourse, the populist Poilievre has continued to gain ground in recent months. According to an Angus Reid poll, the Conservatives are well ahead of the Liberals, with 43 percent of voting intention against 21 percent for the ruling party. The NDP is at 19 percent.

With legislation pending on NDP priorities including a national dental plan, and because Canada rarely goes to the polls during its harsh winters, political analysts suggested an election will not likely be triggered until at least spring 2025. University of Ottawa professor Genevieve Tellier told AFP: “Anything is possible. It could come before Christmas.” A weakened Trudeau administration under constant threat “will find it more difficult to govern” in the interim, she added. — Agencies