OTTAWA 鈥� NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh laid out two paths before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he approaches the start of his term in power: either collaborate with the NDP or with the Conservatives, but not both.
Given the minority scenario Trudeau finds himself in, he will require support from opposition parties to move forward on key legislation.
"Prime Minister Trudeau has a choice, he can work with Conservatives who perhaps he can find a way to move forward with Conservatives, or he can seek our support," said Singh.
"If they want to pass a bill that鈥檚 progressive, that鈥檚 going to benefit all Canadians they have to work with New Democrats."
While Singh suggested the NDP and the Conservatives are Trudeau鈥檚 likely option to seek support, the Bloc Quebecois now hold third-party status and the leverage that comes with.
Singh said Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has made it known that he will only work to advance policies that benefit Quebec, not the entire country.
"Mr. Blanchet has said quite openly that if Mr. Trudeau wants to do something that doesn鈥檛 help Quebec, he can鈥檛 rely on him for support," he said. "If they want to pass something national that benefits all Canadians, they鈥檝e got two options."
Singh met with Trudeau in Ottawa Thursday morning, as part of the prime minister鈥檚 series of sit-downs with opposition leaders before Parliament resumes on December 5.
He said the two talked about their shared progressive vision on such issues as climate change, universal pharamcare, public dental coverage, and Indigenous reconciliation.
"I鈥檓 willing to work together and from the meeting it seemed like there were some openness to work with me," said the NDP leader in a subsequent interview on CTV Power Play.
While Singh has stated he's not issuing ultimatums, he says the NDP would be willing to vote against the throne speech if it doesn't somehow acknowledge his party鈥檚 requests.
"I want to see some clear dates and some clear timelines, that to me would show a real commitment," said Singh on Thursday. "We鈥檙e not going to see everything in the throne speech but I want to see movement."
NDP strategist Karl Belanger told 麻豆传媒 there will undoubtedly be elements of Trudeau鈥檚 address that will appeal to the NDP as well as the other opposition parties, which will require some level of compromise.
"It鈥檚 a little bit like a game of chicken, who will fold first, will it be Mr. Trudeau or Mr. Singh?" said Belanger. "[The speech] will have elements that will be counter to their plan and proposal.鈥�
He added that Singh鈥檚 comments on Thursday that the Bloc Quebecois has no interest in national issues and wouldn鈥檛 be a strategic partner in federal decision-making have the potential to alienate former NDP supporters in Quebec.
"A lot of current Bloc voters voted NDP in the past. If he wants to recover them, he can鈥檛 dismiss them. The people who voted for the Bloc Quebecois this time around aren鈥檛 necessarily hardcore separatists," said Belanger.
With files from The Canadian Press.
