In a strongly worded open letter to Canadians, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh outlined his vision for the country while issuing a damning critique of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership and the Liberal government’s track record. Singh, whose party has propped up Trudeau’s minority government under a supply-and-confidence agreement, made it clear that the NDP is ready to force an election.
“The Canadian dream is a good job that gets you a home and a fridge full of groceries with enough left over to save for vacations,” Singh wrote. “A country where health care is always there as soon as you need it. I believe every Canadian deserves that.”
Singh accused the Trudeau Liberals of promising progress but consistently failing to deliver on critical issues such as housing, affordability, and health care. “Justin Trudeau failed in the biggest job a Prime Minister has: to work for people, not the powerful. To focus on Canadians, not themselves,” Singh stated.
The NDP leader declared his intent to introduce a motion of non-confidence in the next sitting of the House of Commons. He also reiterated his call for Trudeau’s resignation, saying, “This government’s time is up. No matter who is leading the Liberal Party, Canadians deserve a government that will work for them.”
Singh accused the Liberals of being incapable of addressing the country’s most pressing challenges. He said Trudeau cannot fix health care, make housing affordable, or reduce the cost of living.
Singh also turned his sights on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, warning Canadians about the potential consequences of a Conservative government. “Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives will give CEOs and big business anything they want, and make callous cuts to pay for it. They will cut health care, child care, housing and people’s pensions,” he wrote.
Singh contrasted his vision with those of both the Liberals and the Conservatives, positioning the NDP as the party fighting for ordinary Canadians. “I fought like hell to get dental care, free birth control and diabetes medication. I didn’t give up when Justin Trudeau said no. And I won’t let Pierre Poilievre take it all away,” he said.
Singh’s letter ended with an appeal for unity and collective action. He called on Canadians to join him in building “a country where we take better care of each other,” create good jobs, and stand up to external threats like U.S. tariffs.
The letter is a clear sign that Singh and the NDP are preparing for an election battle, positioning themselves as the party of working Canadians, in contrast to what Singh describes as a Liberal government out of touch with the people and a Conservative Party intent on cutting public services.
The move to table a non-confidence motion could put the NDP in a high-stakes position. If other opposition parties, including the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois, rally behind the motion, it could bring down the Liberal government, triggering a federal election.
For now, Singh’s letter has set the stage for a fiery political season, as Canadians brace for the possibility of choosing a new direction for their country.
Pierre Poilievre Criticizes Jagmeet Singh’s Letter to Canadians: A War of Words Over Parliamentary Inaction
As Parliament winds down for the holiday break, political leaders are sparring over accountability and priorities for the months ahead. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has wasted no time responding to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s open letter to Canadians, in which Singh criticized the Trudeau government and signaled frustration over unfulfilled promises.
In a fiery reaction posted online, Poilievre accused Singh of political theatrics, saying, “Ha! Now that Parliament is closed and there is no chance to introduce any motion for months—until after you get your pension.” The Conservative leader went on to highlight Singh’s past actions, claiming they contradict his current rhetoric.
“You did the same stunt in September, claiming you’d no longer prop Trudeau up. Then you went back on your word and voted 8 times AGAINST AN ELECTION & for your boss Trudeau,” Poilievre remarked, referencing Singh’s support for key Liberal initiatives despite public criticisms of the Trudeau government.
Poilievre further called out Singh for voting against a recent non-confidence motion that incorporated language critical of the government, much of which mirrored Singh’s own statements. “Just 11 days ago, you voted against a non-confidence motion filled with your own words. Had you voted the other way, we’d be almost halfway through the election now,” Poilievre stated.
The Conservative leader closed his comments by framing the NDP-Liberal alliance as a “costly clown show” and positioning his party as the only viable alternative to bring what he describes as “common sense” governance to Canadians.
Singh, for his part, has used his letter to push for continued pressure on the Trudeau government, emphasizing the need for action on housing affordability, healthcare improvements, and economic fairness. However, Poilievre’s remarks underscore a persistent narrative from the Conservatives that the NDP is complicit in enabling Liberal policies that they criticize as ineffective and costly.
As Parliament remains on break until the new year, these sharp exchanges highlight the growing tension between opposition parties and their strategies for taking on the Trudeau government in 2024. Whether Singh’s criticisms will translate into real action—or be dismissed as political posturing, as Poilievre suggests—remains to be seen.
