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OTTAWA – The NDP has pulled out of a confidence and supply agreement with the Liberals. What happens now?

In March 2022, the Liberals and NDP penned a deal that would keep the minority government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power until June 2025 and move ahead on some mutually agreeable policies. It was called a confidence and supply agreement.

What happens now?

The end of the deal does not necessarily mean an election will take place before next year.

It does mean the NDP will now vote on Liberal legislation on a case-by-case basis.

The first big test could come this fall if the government tables an economic update in Parliament. If the Liberals survive, another decisive moment will be the vote on the next federal budget implementation bill, likely next spring.

What did the confidence and supply agreement involve?

There are two things that can topple a minority government: confidence votes and budget (supply) votes. The confidence and supply agreement was basically a promise by the NDP not to oppose the Liberals in those key moments as a way to keep them in power.

In exchange, the Liberals adjusted their legislative agenda to make room for some NDP priorities.

How was it different from a coalition?

A coalition is a much more formal partnership. If the parties had opted for a coalition, New Democrat MPs would likely have had seats at the cabinet table, and might have been expected to align on legislation — even if they were not confidence votes.

How did it work?

The parties agreed to a list of priorities on which to advance, including a dental-care program for low-income Canadians and national pharmacare.

In exchange, the Liberals have counted on NDP support on the budget, budgetary policy and budget implementation bills. The NDP also promised not to move a vote of non-confidence or vote for a non-confidence motion until the House rises ahead of the next fixed-date election, which would be in 2025.

An oversight group met regularly to make sure the agreement was still working for both parties.

What did the deal achieve?

The Liberals acted on several NDP priorities, including dental-care benefits, one-time rental supplements for low-income tenants, 10 days of paid sick leave for federally regulated workers and a temporary doubling of the GST rebate.

The New Democrats also used the deal to push forward items such as pharmacare, a ban on replacement workers during a strike or lockout at federally regulated workplaces, and a housing accelerator fund that allocated billions of dollars to help build homes across Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

FREDERICTON – New Brunswick’s Liberals are promising a program to provide free or low-cost food at schools if they’re elected this fall.

Liberal Leader Susan Holt told reporters today her government would ensure all students have access to free, nutritious breakfasts, as well as pay-what-you-can lunches starting September next year, using local New Brunswick products.

She says when students have a full stomach, it improves their capacity to learn new information and participate in extracurricular activities.

While she did not have a menu, she said breakfast and lunches will meet the nutritional requirements for students as suggested by dietitians.

Holt says the program is expected to cost about $27.4 million per year, and she would be willing to partner with the federal government of the day should there be any help offered from Ottawa.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government set aside $1 billion over five years in the last budget to expand access to provincial school food after the NDP put pressure on the Liberals to fund the program.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Vancouver police say a man has been arrested in connection with two serious incidents in the downtown area.

Police say on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that the crime scenes are on Georgia Street near Homer and Hamilton streets.

They say the incidents happened between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. and the investigation is ongoing.

A white evidence tent was covering a corner of the plaza in front of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre downtown, with the entire square cordoned off and several police vehicles in attendance, while a section of Homer Street was also blocked.

No additional details on the nature of the incidents have been released.

Photos circulating on social media show the heavy police presence in the area, with one image of Homer Street showing what appears to be a large blood stain on the sidewalk behind police tape.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.