Close X
Thursday, October 31, 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

Unemployment is trending upward across much of Canada, but Province says the labour force remains steady

Unemployment is trending upward across much of Canada, but Province says the labour force remains steady
Unemployment is trending upward across much of Canada, but B-C's government says the provincial labour force remains steady.  Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey says Statistics Canada labour force survey shows B.C. gained nine thousand jobs last month.

Unemployment is trending upward across much of Canada, but Province says the labour force remains steady

Kamloops crash kills university student

Kamloops crash kills university student
Mounties in B.C.'s southern Interior say they're investigating a multi-vehicle crash that killed one person who's been identified as a university student. A statement from Kamloops RCMP says emergency responders were called to the crash at the intersection of McGill Road and University Drive just outside the Thompson Rivers University campus around 3 p.m. Thursday. 

Kamloops crash kills university student

Flu season officially in Canada

Flu season officially in Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada says flu season is officially underway in this country.  The rate of tests that were positive for flu stayed above the agency's threshold of five per cent for two consecutive weeks.  

Flu season officially in Canada

B.C. urges people to prepare for atmospheric river bearing down on south coast

B.C. urges people to prepare for atmospheric river bearing down on south coast
A bulletin has been issued warning residents in south western British Columbia to prepare for an atmospheric river bearing down on the area. The statement from the Ministry of Emergency Management says Environment Canada is forecasting a series of storms bringing heavy rain until Thursday, with a peak expected on Tuesday.

B.C. urges people to prepare for atmospheric river bearing down on south coast

Police in Vancouver probe 'mysterious' fentanyl poisoning

Police in Vancouver probe 'mysterious' fentanyl poisoning
Police in Vancouver say they're investigating how a man mysteriously fell ill from fentanyl poisoning following a brief encounter with a stranger last week. They say in a statement that investigators are focused on how the 56-year-old man, who does not use drugs, was exposed to the powerful opioid, and whether the incident involved a criminal offence.  

Police in Vancouver probe 'mysterious' fentanyl poisoning

BC Gov to launch a pilot to support the restaurant industry

BC Gov to launch a pilot to support the restaurant industry
The B-C government says it's launching a pilot project to support the restaurant industry.  The province says it’s putting 380-thousand dollars into a two-year pilot project to help with recruiting and retaining more workers.  

BC Gov to launch a pilot to support the restaurant industry