Close X
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

Parliament returns amid partisan wrangling, rumblings about Trudeau's leadership

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Oct, 2024 11:24 AM
  • Parliament returns amid partisan wrangling, rumblings about Trudeau's leadership

The House of Commons returns today from a weeklong break, but it's unlikely to be business as usual.

Members of Parliament resumed an 11th day of debate on a Conservative demand for documents about federal spending on green technology projects.

The matter of privilege has all but paralyzed House business as the Liberals try to maintain a grip on an increasingly fractious minority Parliament.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has also written a letter to House Speaker Greg Fergus, asking for an emergency debate on the RCMP allegations that agents of the Indian government were linked to cases of murder, extortion and coercion in Canada. 

Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and India in turn sent six Canadian envoys home as a result of the allegations.

In the letter, Singh says "the severity of the situation and the danger it poses to all Canadians" warrants an emergency debate so parliamentarians can discuss potential actions to protect people. 

An NDP spokesperson said if Fergus approves the request, the debate could happen as early as Monday evening, once the regularly scheduled sitting of Parliament is over. 

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to face the most serious challenge to his leadership to date.

Several media reports have detailed that a group of Liberal MPs plan to confront Trudeau at the party's Wednesday caucus meeting over sagging poll numbers and gloomy electoral prospects.

The precise strategy and breadth of the attempt to push Trudeau to resign remain unclear, though some MPs who spoke to The Canadian Press on background said the number of members involved is significant.

Trudeau could sidestep both problems by taking the controversial step of proroguing Parliament, which would end the session and set the stage for a fresh throne speech.

Some political watchers have also mused that would allow time for the Liberals to hold leadership race if Trudeau were to step down. 

The prime minister plans to soon shuffle his cabinet to replace four ministers who don't plan to run again in the next election.

A general election must be held by October next year, but it could come sooner if the Liberals lose the confidence of the House.

MORE National ARTICLES

BC gets 5 new Indigenous Justice Centres

BC gets 5 new Indigenous Justice Centres
Premier David Eby says five new Indigenous Justice Centres set up in B-C over the past year will help make the legal system work better for Indigenous people. Eby says a total of nine centres across the province will connect more people with culturally safe legal supports and services.

BC gets 5 new Indigenous Justice Centres

RCMP looking for erratic driver

RCMP looking for erratic driver
The R-C-M-P say they are trying to find a 24-year-old man suspected of driving dangerously through Surrey’s streets during peak traffic hours. Police say officers conducted a traffic stop on a 2017 white Range Rover on September 7th for dangerous driving. 

RCMP looking for erratic driver

Facebook lawsuit settling fee $51M

Facebook lawsuit settling fee $51M
Meta is offering $51 million to settle a class-action lawsuit in four Canadian provinces over the use of some users' images in Facebook advertising.  The legal action filed by a B.C. woman claimed her image and those of others were used without their knowledge in Facebook's "sponsored stories" advertising program, which is no longer in operation.

Facebook lawsuit settling fee $51M

Cold warnings cover much of the West, chilling even the sturdiest Canadians

Cold warnings cover much of the West, chilling even the sturdiest Canadians
Environment Canada's warnings extend into the normally temperate Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria regions. It said the combination of gusts reaching 60 kilometres an hour and cold temperatures will push wind chill values in Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria to near -20. The agency warned that temperatures that cold can bring frostbite, and hypothermia can occur within minutes if precautions are not taken when outdoors.

Cold warnings cover much of the West, chilling even the sturdiest Canadians

B.C. police agencies tout rollout of body worn cameras

B.C. police agencies tout rollout of body worn cameras
Police agencies in British Columbia say the introduction of body cameras will improve transparency and lead to more timely resolution of complaints against officers. The B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and representatives from several departments gathered at RCMP headquarters in Surrey to tout the introduction of the cameras, soon to be worn by thousands of officers in the province and across Canada. 

B.C. police agencies tout rollout of body worn cameras

Former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent dead at 87

Former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent dead at 87
Ed Broadbent, a former leader of the federal New Democrats, has died at age 87, says a statement from the institute he founded. More coming.

Former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent dead at 87