Canadian PM Trudeau weakened after Jagmeet Singh-led NDP withdraws support

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suffered an unexpected blow on Wednesday when the small political party helping keep his minority Liberal government in power withdrew its support.

The announcement by Jagmeet Singh, leader of the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), does not mean Trudeau is in immediate danger of having to step down and call new elections.

However, he will have to find support from other opposition legislators in the House of Commons chamber if he is to pass budgets and survive confidence votes.

Singh said in a video that he was “ripping up” a deal the two men struck in 2022 and accused Trudeau of not being able to take on the opposition Conservatives, who polls indicate are set to easily win an election that must be held by end-October 2025.

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“The Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too devoted to corporate interests to fight for people. They cannot be the change - they cannot restore the hope,” said Singh.

Under the 2022 deal, the NDP agreed to keep Trudeau in power until mid-2025 in return for more social spending. Trudeau first took office in November 2015 and polls suggest he is suffering from voter fatigue.

The same tiredness appears to have spread to the New Democratic Party, which despite successfully pushing the Liberals to introduce measures such as a national dental program are languishing in third place in polls.

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A Trudeau aide, speaking before the NDP announcement, said it “would be a shame if their own weakness and desperation causes them to walk away from a progressive agreement that is delivering for Canadians”.

Singh is not due to speak to media until Thursday.