The “supply-and-trust” agreement between the ruling Liberals and the opposition New Democrats could affect the kind of legislation that Canadians expect to pass through parliament between now and 2025.
The parties have agreed to work together on key policy areas in situations where both parties want the same “medium-term outcome” – while avoiding an early election call.
According to the deal, these key policy areas are climate change, health care spending, reconciliation with indigenous peoples, economic growth and efforts to make life more affordable.
To do this, the parties need to build a working relationship that governs how they communicate plans and election intentions. The Prime Minister’s Office has published a statement on its website describing the deal. Here’s a look at some key questions.
Is this a coalition government?
No. The NDP does not become part of the liberal government. New Democratic MPs remain in opposition, they will not get seats on the cabinet table and the NDP can leave the deal if it thinks it is no longer serving its interests.
The deal only requires the NDP to vote for government support on confidence votes and budget issues such as budget implementation legislation and money bills.
The voting obligation will remain in place until Parliament takes office in June 2025, allowing the Liberal Party to present four federal budgets.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had not proposed bringing the NDP into government – and he had refused such an offer.
“I want to approach with the spirit of hopeful optimism, but I will remain critical and we will remain an opposition party,” Singh said on Tuesday. “We will remain strong to help people and ensure that this agreement is followed.”
How will the parties work together day in and day out?
The PMO statement says that in order for the deal to work, the NDP has agreed not to move a vote of no confidence in the government or to vote for it if it is introduced by another party.
The deal says that if a vote was taken in the House to “prevent the government from functioning”, it would declare a vote of confidence while the NDP gave advance notice. Similarly, the NDP promises to inform the Liberal government “before declaring publicly that discussions on trust will take place.”
To ensure that parliamentary committees continue to function, the deal states that both parties agree to stay in touch on issues that “create unnecessary barriers to legislation, studies and work plans within the committee.”
The parties also agree to speed up bills through the House of Commons, with the NDP promising to “support a limited number of programming moves to pass legislation that both parties agree on.”
To ensure that the NDP stays informed, the Liberal government promises to provide public officials to brief the NDP “in a timely manner” to give the party enough time to react before taking action.
The parties also agreed that party leaders would meet every quarter, chairing regular meetings between house leaders and whips and monthly meetings of a group of staff and politicians.
Singh said he would select NPP deputies and staff to attend these meetings.
What do the two parties want to do?
The NDP and the Liberals have identified seven key areas where they say they work together. Here is what they agreed to follow:
bless you
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A new dental care program starting this year with low-income children under 12 before expanding next year to include under-18s, seniors and people with disabilities. The program would be limited to families earning less than $ 90,000 with no co-payment requirements for anyone earning less than $ 70,000.
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A commitment to work towards a “universal national pharmacare program” by passing the pharmacare legislation by the end of next year. It would be followed by the task of the National Drug Agency to recommend essential medicines and a bulk purchase plan.
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A commitment to “make additional ongoing investments” to support provincial health care systems by hiring more physicians, nurses and mental health care providers.
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A Safe Long-Term Care Act to address the funding and policy deficiencies posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Affordability
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An Early Learning and Child Care Act – to be voted on this year – to ensure that childcare contracts between federal and provincial governments secure long-term federal funding and focus on non-profit spaces.
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More affordable housing, a $ 500 top-up for Canada Housing Benefit this year and a “bill from the home buyer.”
Climate change
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A commitment to support the federal government to exclude the fossil fuel sector – including funding for crown societies – from 2022 onwards.
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A commitment to find new “ways to accelerate the track further” towards a net zero economy by 2050.
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A “Clean Jobs Training Center” to support retraining for energy workers as Canada moves away from fossil fuels.
Work
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Promise to implement as soon as possible legislation passed by the Liberals to ensure that federally regulated workers receive 10 days’ paid health insurance each year.
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The introduction of legislation by the end of next year makes it illegal to call on replacement workers if a employer of trade unions in a federally regulated industry excludes workers.
Reconciliation
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A commitment to further funding for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to help carry out cemetery searches on the former site of residential schools.
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A commitment to work with indigenous peoples to decide how housing investments are delivered and designed.
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A commitment to promote policies related to missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
Tax Initiatives
Democracy
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A commitment to work with Election Canada to expand voter turnout, which could include extending election day to three days of voting.
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A change in the voting rules to allow people to vote in any polling station in their constituency.
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Improvements to mail-in ballot papers so that voters are not dismissed.
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A commitment to ensure that the number of Quebec seats in the House of Commons remains constant.
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