Justin Trudeau says hell no to NDP-Liberal coalition government
Last week, NDP MP Nathan Cullen told the Georgia Straight that his party would be interested in forming a coalition government with the Liberals in the event that the Conservatives win only a plurality of the seats in the House of Commons in the upcoming federal election.
Soon after we published those comments, the national media jumped all over the story, even though Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau was already on record as stating that he was "unequivocally opposed" to the idea.
In any case, Trudeau had the opportunity today (July 23) to further clarify his position and he did so.
“A formal coalition is out of the question,” Trudeau said at a news conference in Winnipeg, according to the National Post. “There are a number of issues on which the Liberal party and the NDP disagree on a quite a fundamental level.”
(One of those issues might be Bill C-51, which the Liberals supported after amendments and the NDP opposed.)
However, as Cullen told the Straight, Trudeau could still find himself under pressure to join a coalition if it's the only way to replace the Harper government without another election.
“If Trudeau’s willing to turn to Liberal supporters and say, ‘My dislike of the NDP is greater than my dislike of the Conservatives,’ then let him make the argument,” the Skeena–Bulkley Valley MP said last week. “But it makes no sense to me.”
Comments
6 Comments
sable
Jul 23, 2015 at 4:55pm
Forced to join a coalition? Trudeau has said he would cooperate and work with any party to pass good legislation and help Canadians. But I don't see how anyone can be forced to take a cabinet position, sign a post-election deal negotiated by party reps. We've had good working minority governments without such deals and we can again. Stay positive, Mr. Cullen, and don't raise straw men to help Harper.
Howard
Jul 23, 2015 at 8:51pm
What a piece of shit. He's almost half as bad as Harper.
Observant
Jul 24, 2015 at 6:54am
Even if the Cons are in a minority position and even if they have several seats LESS than the NDP, the GG will invite the Cons back to form a minority government as a matter of procedure and precedence.
Harper will then try to govern with the help of Blue Grit Liberal MPs, and you can bet they will support the Harper Cons before letting a Mulcair NDP minority government get their slimy socialist-separatist hands on the Ottawa levers of power.
Even so, what would happen after the defeat of a Con minority government is another snap election based on a Con Budget. Besides, Harper could govern with a minority for about 3 months before tabling a Budget which is enough time for a Lib-Dip coalition to collapse. That's reality .... believe it.
Dear Justin,
Jul 24, 2015 at 8:24am
Thank you for making everything clear. Now the people who were sitting on the fence about voting in your Adscam party can support the NDP with confidence. Please nominate Gerard Kennedy as your replacement after the election.
Don't Vote Trolldeau
Jul 24, 2015 at 9:15am
He's against a coalition with the NDP, but supposedly in favour of electoral reform? That doesn't add up.
If the electoral reform he's proposed goes through, Canada would likely be governed by coalition governments much of the time.
It's clear that he only spoke in favour of electoral reform as a political tactic, to stop the left wing from jumping ship to the only actual left wing party after the fallout from supporting bill C-51. He has no real intention of actually pushing for electoral reform. The NDP meanwhile, have been consistent on the issue.
That means any Green supporters ought to support the NDP this one time so they can finally vote their conscience starting next election.
I wish...
Jul 24, 2015 at 11:17am
Justin would find himself a nice job someplace where his qualifications would be a benefit. Like, maybe at a Walmart. He would be great as a customer greeter.