Close X
Thursday, November 14, 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

Two youth arrested in Skytrain stabbing

Two youth arrested in Skytrain stabbing
New Westminster Police and Metro Vancouver Transit Police say two youth, ages 16 and 17, have been charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and robbery.

Two youth arrested in Skytrain stabbing

Burnaby collision at construction site leaves 1 hurt

Burnaby collision at construction site leaves 1 hurt
Witnesses indicated a white Toyota Tacoma had crashed into a concrete block, which caused the block to strike another vehicle legally parked at the location. The pick-up truck then reversed and collided with a wooden pallet holding construction materials.

Burnaby collision at construction site leaves 1 hurt

BC lawyer suspended

BC lawyer suspended
A former lawyer in B-C has been suspended for six months and ordered to pay more than 4-thousand dollars for sexually harassing a client. The Law Society of B-C says William James Heflin made "unwelcome comments, advances and physical contact" with a client during an October 2020 meeting at the Victoria courthouse.

BC lawyer suspended

Women gardening bitten by coyote

Women gardening bitten by coyote
A woman is nursing minor injuries after being bitten by a coyote while she was doing some gardening in Prince George, B.C. A statement from the B.C. Conservation Officers Service says the coyote walked up to the woman from behind and bit her.

Women gardening bitten by coyote

Will provide appropriate remedy for Indian students facing deportation: Canadian Minister

Will provide appropriate remedy for Indian students facing deportation: Canadian Minister
Students filed visa applications 2018 onwards till 2022 through Jalandhar-based Education Migration Services headed by one Brijesh Mishra, who is on the run and has shut all his operations operating from Jalandhar. He is s also accused of cheating students of tens of thousands of dollars.

Will provide appropriate remedy for Indian students facing deportation: Canadian Minister

NDP attempts to prod Liberals into action on pharmacare by tabling its own bill

NDP attempts to prod Liberals into action on pharmacare by tabling its own bill
The NDP and Liberals struck a confidence-and-supply agreement last year that would see the NDP support the government on key votes to hold an election off until 2025 in exchange for progress on NDP priorities.

NDP attempts to prod Liberals into action on pharmacare by tabling its own bill