Liberals on calls for secret ballot vote, party discord, NATO defence spending – October 30, 2024
Ministers and Liberal MPs address the media on Parliament Hill as the federal party holds its weekly caucus meeting. The meeting comes amidst calls from within the caucus for a secret ballot vote on Justin Trudeau’s future as Liberal leader following ongoing discord in the party.
Speaking briefly with reporters about this are Ministers Randy Boissonnault (employment), Arif Virani (justice), Marie-Claude Bibeau (national revenue), François-Philippe Champagne (innovation), Mark Holland (health), Marc Miller (immigration), Diane Lebouthillier (fisheries), Gary Anandasangaree (Crown-Indigenous relations) and Karina Gould (government House leader), as well as MPs Judy Sgro, Fayçal El-Khoury, Charles Sousa, Salma Zahid, Yvan Baker, Taleeb Noormohamed, Anthony Housefather, Joël Lightbound, Marcus Powlowski, Stéphane Lauzon, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Kevin Lamoureux and Mona Fortier.
Holland also discusses the lawsuit by provinces and territories against three major tobacco companies.
Champagne faces questions as well on the future of Canada-U.S. relations in light of next week’s presidential election.
Additionally, Boissonnault speaks about the Alberta government’s application for a judicial review in order to exempted from the federal carbon tax.
Sean Fraser (housing) comments on the federal government’s plan for housing policies given the recent decision to cut back on immigration targets. He also speaks about a number of Conservative MPs who have asked for funding for their communities through the federal housing accelerator fund, despite Pierre Poilievre’s pledge to cancel the program if their party forms government.
Jean-Yves Duclos (public services) discusses the Quebec government’s move to eliminate francization courses in certain regions of the province due to budget cuts.
Bill Blair (defence) faces questions on the parliamentary budget officer’s recent report that asserts that if the federal government wants to meet its NATO defence spending targets by 2032 it would have to almost double its spending on defence.
Steven MacKinnon (labour) speaks about the ongoing negotiations to avert a strike by Canada Post workers ahead of the holiday season.
Pascale St-Onge comments on the government’s support for Canadian journalism.
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