For 2025, Portage-Lisgar Conservative MP, Branden Leslie, says it's anybody's guess as to what will transpire. He outlines events before Christmas, including NDP leader Jagmeet Singh's statement that he would vote down the Liberal government at the first available opportunity.
"I think he said it would be in February or March, which is odd because that coincides with when Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the NDP, gets his pension. We've seen this before with the NDP. They've continuously propped up this Liberal government. They are as much to blame for all the economic calamities and the wave of crime our country has seen; they have been supporting them every step of the way."
Leslie notes that back in the summer, the NDP made a big show of ripping up their agreement with the Liberals, claiming they were no longer in a formal coalition.
"Then they receded a dozen times to vote to keep them in power. I want to believe Mr. Singh when he says they're going to vote against this government. We'll wait and see. The track record doesn't leave me terribly optimistic, but he's put himself in a bit of a corner that I think he has to. So, that certainly leads us to the high likelihood that we're going to have an election at some point this spring."
Leslie explains that the opposition party chairs a Budgetary Policy Committee and the Public Accounts Committee, and they have put forward a motion at that committee.
"Our chair stated that we are happy to sit in January before the House comes back on January 27th, to study the fact that while all of the parties say they don't have confidence in this government and try to pass a motion of that committee which would force a debate as early as about January 29th, two days after they get back in Ottawa."
He acknowledges that all of this is more of what can be considered the rumor mill, adding that politicians are somewhat guessing what the plan might be.
"But you know, all that we see right now is a Prime Minister off skiing in BC, causing quite the consternation for other folks paying high prices to go skiing out there with his heavy security. It's pretty clear he is unwilling to give up his grip on power. Everybody, I think, recognizes, based on polling and just talking to anybody, that this government's been in place nine long years, coming up on 10 in the not-too-distant future: it's at the end of its lifecycle. It's out of steam and out of ideas. The corruption is literally getting in the way of Parliament."
Leslie notes that from a Parliamentary perspective, everything depends on when the election takes place.
"We're going to get right back to this Motion of Privilege in the House of Commons unless we can get a debate or non-confidence motion, and force that election. We'll wait and see, but it's obviously something that's hanging over Parliament and hanging over Canadians right now."
Leslie says Poilievre has been talking about putting Canada first, noting how novel it is to have proud Canadians caring about their way of life and putting themselves first.
"I think it's time for that fresh start and for that real change. To use a line that was famous in the 2015 campaign, I think it's time Canadians and folks around here, that I've talked to, anyway, are looking for change."
He adds that while not everyone is struggling, many are, and people are thankful for the work of not-for-profits and charitable giving seen for decades in communities across the region.
"We are notable in terms of the amount of generosity and donations that we give to those in need. But I wish we wouldn't have to. I wish we could focus on finding ways that people could pick themselves up by the bootstraps. People want to work hard. They want to get a job that pays. They want to save for their pension. They want to be able to buy a house if you're a young person coming out of university. These are things that are part of our Canadian identity, and we seem to have lost our way. I think it's high time that we refocus on, as our leader said many times, putting Canada first and that means putting Canadians first."