Singh distances himself from coalition talk as campaign enters final week

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh appears to be stepping back from the idea of putting together a formalcoalition government as the federal election campaign heads into its critical final week.

Askedby reporters on Sunday whether he'd "cobble up a coalition" with Justin Trudeau's Liberals in a minority government scenario,Singh replied, "Oh absolutely,because we're not going to support a Conservative government."

When asked the next day if the coalition talk was premature, Singh said, "That was not my position."

"My focus is not on a coalition. My focus is on this: Ifyou vote New Democrat, you're going to get someone on your side," he said from Vancouver.

"I'm not negotiating the future today. Today I'm telling Canadians what they can do, and what they can do is this: If you vote for a New Democrat, you know our priorities and where we stand."

'Focus is not on a coalition,' Singh says

5 years ago

Duration 0:45

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh tells reporters Monday that his focus is not on forming a coalition government. He appeared to be stepping back from his recent statement suggesting he was open to forming a coalition with the Liberals to stop the Conservatives from taking power in a minority Parliament.

Singh, whose party is enjoying momentum in the polls, has been openly floating the idea of working with the Liberals if the incumbent party wins the most seats in the electionbut fails to secure a majority. That has stirred up a campaign conversation about coalition governments.

Opposition partieshave supported minority governments on an issue-by-issue basis in past Parliaments, butformal coalitions are rare in Canada.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau was repeatedly asked about Singh's pitch during a stop in NDP-friendly Windsor, Ont. Monday, but wouldn't publicly entertain the idea ofa coalition government.

"Our focus is on electing a progressive government, not a progressive opposition, and ensuring that we stop Conservative cuts," he said.

Trudeau dodges coalition questions

5 years ago

Duration 0:55

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Monday his party is focused on "electing a progressive government, not a progressive opposition." Trudeau was taking questions about whether his government would consider forming a coalition with the NDP during a campaign stop in Windsor, Ont.

"I think it's very clear to Canadians what happened under Stephen Harper when we had a strong NDP, when we had a strong Bloc cuts to culture, cuts to services, cuts to veterans, nothing done on climate change and indeed a retreat from Kyoto."

According to CBC's Poll Tracker, an aggregation of all publicly available polling data, both the Conservatives and the Liberals are tracking below 33 per cent support countrywide and it'slooking increasingly unlikely that either party will be able to win enough seats to form a majority government.

Tories stir up coalition fears

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheerquickly dismissed talk of a coalition government when questioned in Winnipeg today.

"My message to Canadians is this only a Conservative majority government can prevent a government with Justin Trudeau as the spokesman but the NDP calling the shots," said Scheer.

"The choice is clear. It's between a Trudeau-NDP coalition that will drive up taxes, drive out jobs and cost you thousands of dollars more every year, and a new Conservative majority government that will lower your taxes and put more money in your pockets."

Scheer questioned about working with Bloc

5 years ago

Duration 1:05

During a campaign stop in Winnipeg Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer was asked if he'd govern with the support of the Bloc Quebecois. "I don't need to work with the Bloc Quebecois to deliver results for Quebec," Scheer replied.

Scheer also appeared to rule out any formal coalition with the Bloc Qubcois, which is experiencing a bump in the polls.

"I don't need to work with the Bloc Qubcois to deliver results for Quebec," he said. "I can work with Premier [Franois]Legault to do that. We would not enter into any type of negotiations with the Bloc."

One of the most recent examples of a formal Canadian coalition existed in Saskatchewan back in1999, whenthree Liberal MLAs were given portfolios in NDP Premier Roy Romanow's cabinet.

The Green Party in British Columbia helps to prop up the NDP government through a "confidence and supply agreement,"meaning a guarantee of support for any budgets or confidence motions.

In 2008, the NDP and Liberals talked about forminga majority coalition with help from the Bloc in the hopes of toppling Stephen Harper's Conservativeson a vote ofnon-confidence a few weeks after the Oct. 2008 federal election.

However, that vote neverhappened becauseHarper requested, and was granted, prorogation of Parliament. OnceParliament reconvened in the new year, the Liberals distanced themselves from the deal.

Singh retreats from talks of forming a coalition with the Liberals

5 years ago

Duration 2:05

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh appears to be stepping back from the idea of forming a coalition government with the Liberals as the election campaign enters its critical final week.