The federal NDP leader is calling on the prime minister to step down.
It’s a bombshell comment from Jagmeet Singh as his party has been keeping the Liberals in power. Singh says they are looking at all options as chaos unfolds in Ottawa.
“We’ve got the threat of Donald Trump and 25 per cent tariffs…which means hundreds of thousands of jobs and because of that, I am saying very clearly, Justin Trudeau has to resign, all options are on the table.” Singh told reporters in Ottawa before question period.
It comes after Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced her resignation from cabinet in an explosive development on Monday.
She broke the news on social media. In a letter to Trudeau, Freeland stated her decision came after being offered another position in cabinet on Friday.
“Upon reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the cabinet,” wrote Freeland. “To be effective, a minister must speak on behalf of the prime minister and with his full confidence. In making your decision, you made clear that I no longer credibly enjoy that confidence.”
Freeland did indicate in her letter she is committed to running in the next election. The cabinet resignation comes ahead of a planned fall economic update which was planned for later in the day on Monday.
Reports of tension between Freeland and Trudeau surfaced ahead of the update and speculation around a cabinet shuffle in the next few days.
“For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada,” she said. “Our country today faces a grave challenge. The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including a threat of 25 per cent tariffs.”
Trudeau promised $250 payments in the spring for anyone that worked in 2023 and made less than $150,000 but the deposits were not going to be part of the economic update. The NDP and Bloc would not support the measure because it excluded seniors, and those with disabilities.
Meantime, Housing Minister Sean Fraser announced his resignation from cabinet as well. The Nova Scotia MP does not plan to seek re-election.
Fraser was first elected in 2015 after Conservative Peter MacKay did not run for reelection in the Central Nova riding.
He wants to spend more time with his family and pointed to the demanding travel commitments as the main reason for his decision.
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