Could Canada be headed for another election? Liberal MPs downplay possibility

CTV’s Political Commentator Scott Reid provides his insight on the ‘interesting move’ of Prime Minister Carney’s plan to address Canadians.

Several Liberal MPs downplayed the possibility of another general election coming sooner rather than later, when asked by reporters on Wednesday if they’re worried the government will fall over the upcoming budget.

Three seats shy of a majority, the Liberals need the support of MPs from other parties to pass the upcoming budget, or the government will fall and Canadians will head back to the polls. The highly anticipated budget is slated for Nov. 4, and will be Mark Carney’s first as prime minister.

Government House Leader Steve MacKinnon, however, cast doubt on Tuesday over whether the document will pass.

“What we’re seeing is our opposition parties, the Bloc Québécois who, without having even read the budget, eliminate the possibility that they will support it, and the Conservatives making just ludicrous demands with respect to the budget,” MacKinnon told reporters on Parliament Hill on Tuesday.

When asked whether he’s worried that could mean another election, MacKinnon said yes, adding he believes that would amount to the opposition parties “misreading the mood of Canadians,” and several times calling them “cavalier.”

On Wednesday, MacKinnon appeared to soften his stance, saying the Liberals don’t “think an election is necessary.”

“We have a minority parliament, but we do believe we have a mandate, a mandate along the lines of my previous answer,” MacKinnon said. “If there has to be an election, we will confidently take our plan to the people, but we don’t think an election is necessary.”

Several Liberal MPs, meanwhile, also downplayed the possibility when asked by reporters ahead of a caucus meeting on Wednesday.

“We’re very confident that the majority of members of the House of Commons will agree that what we’re proposing will be in the best interest of Canadians, and they’ll support it,” said Chief Government Whip Mark Gerretson, adding Canadians don’t want to go back to the polls after fewer than seven months.

Caucus chair James Maloney said he hopes the budget passes and that he’s “not worried about it at this stage.”

“I’m confident that the budget will be strong enough,” Maloney said, refusing to say how large of a deficit he’d be comfortable with, calling it “arbitrary” until he sees what’s in the document.

Liberal MP Corey Hogan said MPs across party lines need to work together, especially as Canada faces larger concerns internationally, namely in its trade dispute with the United States.

“I always share worries in a minority Parliament, anything can happen,” he said. “But, I think Canadians expect us to be pragmatic, that Canadians expect that the mandate they delivered for big change be met by opposition parties, and certainly we’ll meet them as well.”

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, when asked whether the Liberals have a dance partner for the budget and whether he’s worried about an election, said it’s not the time for political posturing.

Champagne said he knows Canadians understand the importance of this moment in history, referencing the federal government’s attempts to “build the country” and insulate the economy, particularly amid an ongoing trade war with the United States.

Pressed on whether he’s willing to make concessions to the opposition parties in exchange for votes, Champagne said he’s listening to Canadians, not politicians.

Opposition leaders lay out demands

Carney, meanwhile, is set to deliver a pre-budget speech Wednesday night and outline the government’s priorities for the document.

According to a source familiar with the speech, it will focus on the government’s economic plan along four themes: diversifying trading partners, plans for immigration and to attract new talents, climate, and the core principle of the budget, which is to “spend less in order to invest more.”

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has laid out a series of demands for the Liberals that he wants to see included in the budget, including several non-negotiables. He met with Carney Wednesday morning, and when asked whether it went well, said “yes.”

Speaking to reporters ahead of question period, Blanchet said his party’s demands — which he called “absolute conditions” — have been clear since before the election.

“They always knew what we stand for,” he said. “We say ‘this is what we want.’ They knew it.”

“It’s their responsibility, and only theirs, to find somebody to vote with them,” he also said. “They know our conditions, and if they wake up a little bit late, it’s once again, their problem.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also met with Carney on Wednesday to discuss the budget.

Poilievre had issued an open letter to Carney on Monday, highlighting several demands including a call to keep the federal deficit at $42 billion.

Also speaking to reporters ahead of question period, Poilievre said he’s meeting with Carney Wednesday “in the spirit of collaboration.”

“If he takes my suggestions of bringing down the deficit to the level the Liberal government promised, of getting rid of the hidden taxes on food, well, then let’s have a look at it,” he said.

Asked by reporters following the meeting whether the gets the sense it’ll be a budget he can support, Poilievre didn’t rule it out.

“I haven’t seen anything, but I’ve sort of laid out my conditions for the party, and we’ll see what he comes up with,” he said.

In a statement Tuesday, Interim NDP Leader Don Davies said it’s Carney’s job to “craft a budget that can secure majority votes.”

“If the Government House Leader is worried about the support of their fall budget, then the onus is on them to reach out to opposition parties and work with them to get support,” he wrote, adding he doesn’t believe Canadians want another election so soon, and the New Democrats are willing to “make Parliament work for Canadians.”

“But any election will be the choice of Mr. Carney,” Davies wrote.

With files from CTV News senior political correspondent Mike Le Couteur