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A whole new political ballgame
As of last Tuesday, there is a new Canadian political agenda, made public in identical releases from the offices of the Prime Minister and the NDP.
Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh had been talking about doing a deal all of last fall, but it only came together after the NDP supported the Liberals on the invocation—and hasty withdrawal—of the Emergencies Act; and after Mr. Trudeau phoned Mr. Singh to congratulate him on the birth of his daughter.
The introductory text of the agreement sets the scene. It reads in part as follows:
The Liberal Party of Canada and Canada’s New Democratic Party have agreed to improve the way we approach politics over the next three years for the benefit of Canadians. The parties have identified key policy areas where there is a desire for a similar medium-term outcome. We have agreed to work together during the course of this Parliament to put the needs of Canadians first. This work will be focused on growing our economy by creating green jobs that fight the climate crisis, making people’s lives more affordable with housing and childcare, and expanding and protecting our healthcare. As the basis for this work, it is fundamental for the parties to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Both parties hope that by approaching this Parliament more collaboratively, we will be able to deliver on these shared policy objectives before the next election.
That word “collaboratively” hasn’t been used in federal politics in a long time.
The agreement has two parts. The first part deals with parliamentary procedure, and commits the NDP to hold confidence in the government until June 2025, while the Liberals commit to consulting the NDP and governing through that period to achieve their joint objectives, during which the Liberals will present four budgets.
The second part lists the legislative actions to be accomplished during the period, which it puts into seven categories, as follows:
Category 1: Health care. A national dental care program aimed at helping lower income Canadians, starting this year and fully implemented by 2025. A national pharmacare Act by the end of 2023, and then development of a formulary of essential medicines and a bulk purchase plan by June 2025. Additional federal health care contributions in the “immediate future” for more primary care doctors and nurses, mental health support, aging at home, and better data. A safe long-term care Act.
Category 2: Income support programs. Continued housing support initiatives. A housing accelerator fund Address the financialization of housing markets. An early learning and child care Act by the end of 2022.
Category 3: Climate and green jobs. Significant emissions reductions by 2030 and ‘acceleration of the trajectory’ to achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050. A clean jobs training centre in 2022. Consult the public on a just transition law. Develop early in 2022 a plan to phase-out public financing of the fossil fuel sector. Home energy efficiency jobs that stay in Canada and have exportable potential.
Category 4: Workers’ rights. Establish in 2022 10 days of paid sick leave for all federal]y regulated workers. Abolish scab work in federally regulated industries.
Category 5: Reconciliation. Significant additional investment in Indigenous housing in 2022. Acceleration of the federal pathways program for Indigenous women. Support First Nations who wish to investigate additional sites at former residential schools.
Category 6: Taxation. Tax on financial institutions that have profited from the pandemic. A beneficial ownership registry.
Category 7: Elections. Expand the opportunity for people to vote, such as three voting days, voting at any local polling station and easier mail-in balloting.
Interim opposition leader Candice Bergen has denounced the agreement as a de facto coalition and a fraud on the Canadian electorate. She would no doubt, if asked, compare it unfavourably to the Molotov- Ribbentrop pact of 1939. But is it really such a bad agreement?
I don’t buy her argument. Justin Trudeau went after a majority, and he got another minority. He said it was his job to make Parliament work, and he is doing that by entering into partnership with the NDP.
I applaud Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Singh for making this deal. It will provide the country with some political stability, which is good for the economy, Just look at the trouble Joe Biden is having getting Congress to pass his agenda and be thankful we have a composite voting majority with a clear agenda. They have put the cards of their cooperation on the table. If people don’t like the legislative outcome, they can vote Conservative in the next election.
Now that Mr. Trudeau has placed himself on the left flank with the NDP, the Conservatives will have the right flank to themselves. However, they have a challenge. The agreement states “politics is supposed to be adversarial, but no one benefits when increasing polarization and parliamentary dysfunction stand in the way of delivering these results for Canadians.” Will they take the bait, and try to restrain themselves? Are they going to be more cooperative? Can Pierre Poilievre morph into a more statesmanlike figure? Will Jean Charest get bored biding his time until he gets the opportunity to become prime minster?
The deal is good for Mr. Trudeau. He gets at least two or three years of clear sailing, during which he can fashion his legacy before turning over his position to his successor. He will never have to face the voters again, and will leave the ring undefeated. His rivals for the leadership of the party will sheath their swords, knowing there will be a new leader by mid-2025.
Mr. Singh’s party benefits by being able to show it is able to get socially progressive legislation passed. While some might characterize him as a handmaiden to the Liberals, he can present himself as a successful parliamentarian who is a co-creator of, and therefore the rightful heir to, the Trudeau legacy.
Who knows, the agreement may just produce some good legislation. One thing is for sure: It’s a whole new political ballgame.
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