UPDATE 10/02/2024:
The second non-confidence motion failed yesterday, with 207 MPs against and 121 for. In comparison, the previous motion's resulted in 211 against and 120 for.
Original article:
The final week of September was an intense one in Ottawa, with emotions running high in the House of Commons. Portage-Lisgar MP Branden Leslie is reflecting on the political turbulence surrounding the non-confidence vote brought forward by the Conservative Party.
"It's been rowdy, to say the least,” Leslie joked. “We call this ‘silly season.’ Tempers are high in many cases.”
He highlighted his frustration with what he sees as a lack of clear responses from the government. Leslie’s tone turned more serious when discussing the week’s events, particularly the non-confidence motion that failed to pass.
The motion, aimed at ousting the Trudeau government, was met with support from the Conservatives, but ultimately did not gain enough traction with other parties.
"Very disappointing to see the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois support the Liberals. I sit there in Parliament every day and listen to them sort of criticize the Liberals, but when push comes to shove, they're more than happy to hold them in power a little bit longer. I think they recognize that their electoral odds aren't very good, so they don't really want to go to the polls. They'd rather continue to have Canadians suffer through another six months or longer with these guys in power. It is frustrating, but we're going to keep doing our best to highlight the flaws of the current government and ask really tough questions."
For Leslie, the decision to vote in favour of the motion was clear.
"I was not elected to make Justin Trudeau comfortable in the Prime Minister's chair. I was not elected to keep him in power any longer. The most common question I get is not anything about specific policies; it's 'When can we have an election?' So, it was a very easy decision for me. I have no confidence in the Prime Minister and this Liberal government, and I proudly cast my vote that way."
The MP spoke about the discontent of the public, specifically those who display unsavory words on their vehicles directed at the Prime Minister.
“I don't think it's great that we see such disdain for anybody that sits in an elected office, at any level, anywhere. I think it just goes to show how fed-up people are. It's been 9 long years of this government. I don't always love to see it, because if the tables were turned, I wouldn't love it to be said about me. But at the same time, I fully understand why people are so upset, so frustrated and feel no other way to express it.”
Leslie acknowledged that the coming months could bring more motions of non-confidence, but whether they lead to an election remains uncertain.