OTTAWA — A handful of Liberals are signalling that their party will be voting against the Bloc Québécois motion to increase old age pension payments for all seniors, which would ensure that at least two opposition parties will attempt to bring down the government.
The Conservatives have already tried to bring down the government with two unsuccessful non-confidence motions this fall session, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has said his party will decide on a case-by-case basis.
Speaking to reporters before the Liberal caucus meeting, Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault said that he “personally” would be voting against the Bloc’s motion.
Because all members of cabinet are required to support the governmental decisions, Boissonnault’s position would mean that all ministers would be voting against the motion. When asked if that was the case, Boissonnault only replied, “stay tuned.”
Other ministers remained tight-lipped when asked how they would vote. Public Works Minister Jean-Yves Duclos only said that the government’s position will be unveiled later in the day by his colleague Steven MacKinnon, who is Minister of Labour and Seniors.
Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet is asking the federal government to grant a “royal recommendation” for his party’s bill — which would increase the Old Age Security (OAS) for all people aged 65 and cost about $16 billion over five years.
Because the bill involves public funds, a minister of the Crown must provide a royal recommendation before it is read a third time in the House of Commons and passed. If that is not the case, the Speaker must stop the proceedings and rule the bill out of order.
Blanchet has given the government until October 29 to support his party’s bill, or he will begin talks with other opposition parties to bring down the government. But on Tuesday, he did not rule out calling for an election earlier if the Liberals are effectively killing his bill.
“The big question is: can we afford it? And my understanding is the cost is really astronomical and prohibitive, and part of the government’s job is to make choices in terms of priorities in terms of where you spend the money,” said Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski.
“I would think we’re voting against it,” he added.
More details to follow…
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