NDP leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters on Tuesday that even though the cabinet allegedly ignored foreign agents interfering in Canadian elections, it would not change the New Democrats promise to back the prime minister and the Liberals until 2025. .Singh said that it would not make sense to withdraw support and call for an early election, according to Blacklock’s Reporter..“I don’t see how it’s logical if the goal is to protect our democracy to then trigger an election when we are worried about foreign interference,” said Singh..“That doesn’t seem logical.”.“Do you worry about your own credibility?” asked a reporter. .“We are forcing this government to deliver,” replied Singh. .“There is not a threat here. There is a straight-up agreement where we have forced this government to do a number of things.”.New Democrats in 2022 reached a Supply and Confidence Agreement with the cabinet that included a “no surprises” pledge to support key Liberal bills in the minority Parliament until 2025 in exchange for legislation like pharmacare. .“I am going into this with eyes wide-open,” Singh said at the time..New Democrats on Tuesday sponsored a Commons motion demanding that the cabinet “urgently establish a public commission of inquiry” into foreign interference. The Commons passed an identical New Democrat motion on March 23 that was subsequently ignored by the prime minister..The NDP also asked that the prime minister fire David Johnston, the cabinet-appointed “special rapporteur” who dismissed a public inquiry into the work of Chinese agents. Johnston, in a May 23 First Report, said a public inquiry would be “expensive,” “lengthy” and “unlikely to learn more about who knew what.”.Singh called for Johnston's resignation as a cabinet advisor on Tuesday due to conflicts of interest, including a personal friendship with the prime minister. However, Singh did not say the potential consequences if their demand was ignored..“How serious is your threat to ask David Johnston to step down as special rapporteur if you’re not going to follow through with pulling the plug on the Supply And Confidence Agreement?” asked a reporter. .“I would question the approach of creating the conditions for an election or triggering an election as not serious about protecting our democracy,” replied Singh..MPs in the House of Commons mocked the New Democrat's threat..“How far does this new opposition go?” asked Conservative MP Bob Zimmer (Prince George-Peace River, BC). .“Will they stand with Conservatives and bring this corrupt Liberal government down?”.“If anybody is suggesting that confidence is being eroded, I would suggest it is by the irresponsible behaviour of our opposition parties,” said Liberal MP Jennifer O’Connell (Pickering-Uxbridge, ON)..On Tuesday, independent MP Kevin Vuong (Spadina-Fort York, ON) told the Commons that the issue was clear..“Explain why the government continues to refuse to hold a public, independent inquiry,” said Vuong. .“What does the government have to hide?”
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters on Tuesday that even though the cabinet allegedly ignored foreign agents interfering in Canadian elections, it would not change the New Democrats promise to back the prime minister and the Liberals until 2025. .Singh said that it would not make sense to withdraw support and call for an early election, according to Blacklock’s Reporter..“I don’t see how it’s logical if the goal is to protect our democracy to then trigger an election when we are worried about foreign interference,” said Singh..“That doesn’t seem logical.”.“Do you worry about your own credibility?” asked a reporter. .“We are forcing this government to deliver,” replied Singh. .“There is not a threat here. There is a straight-up agreement where we have forced this government to do a number of things.”.New Democrats in 2022 reached a Supply and Confidence Agreement with the cabinet that included a “no surprises” pledge to support key Liberal bills in the minority Parliament until 2025 in exchange for legislation like pharmacare. .“I am going into this with eyes wide-open,” Singh said at the time..New Democrats on Tuesday sponsored a Commons motion demanding that the cabinet “urgently establish a public commission of inquiry” into foreign interference. The Commons passed an identical New Democrat motion on March 23 that was subsequently ignored by the prime minister..The NDP also asked that the prime minister fire David Johnston, the cabinet-appointed “special rapporteur” who dismissed a public inquiry into the work of Chinese agents. Johnston, in a May 23 First Report, said a public inquiry would be “expensive,” “lengthy” and “unlikely to learn more about who knew what.”.Singh called for Johnston's resignation as a cabinet advisor on Tuesday due to conflicts of interest, including a personal friendship with the prime minister. However, Singh did not say the potential consequences if their demand was ignored..“How serious is your threat to ask David Johnston to step down as special rapporteur if you’re not going to follow through with pulling the plug on the Supply And Confidence Agreement?” asked a reporter. .“I would question the approach of creating the conditions for an election or triggering an election as not serious about protecting our democracy,” replied Singh..MPs in the House of Commons mocked the New Democrat's threat..“How far does this new opposition go?” asked Conservative MP Bob Zimmer (Prince George-Peace River, BC). .“Will they stand with Conservatives and bring this corrupt Liberal government down?”.“If anybody is suggesting that confidence is being eroded, I would suggest it is by the irresponsible behaviour of our opposition parties,” said Liberal MP Jennifer O’Connell (Pickering-Uxbridge, ON)..On Tuesday, independent MP Kevin Vuong (Spadina-Fort York, ON) told the Commons that the issue was clear..“Explain why the government continues to refuse to hold a public, independent inquiry,” said Vuong. .“What does the government have to hide?”
