The Liberals are contacting NDP MPs to see if they want to cross the floor and switch parties, aiming for a majority government, says the NDP interim leader.
The Liberals won a minority government in the recent federal election with 169 seats, but needed 172 to win a majority. The seat counts could change slightly as recounts are performed in ridings with close races.
The NDP lost most of its seats in the April 28 election, winning only in seven ridings. The party is short of the 12 seats needed to retain official party status. Former NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh lost his riding in the election and stepped down.
Interim Leader Don Davies said the Liberals have been making phone calls to NDP MPs to see if any are interested in joining the party.
“I do know that there’s been certain calls made by Liberals. I would probably describe them more as ‘feelers’ that have been put out,” Davies said in an interview with Global News published May 9. “But I can tell you that in our two caucus meetings that we had, our NDP caucus colleagues have committed to being strong, united New Democrats in Parliament, and I have every confidence that they’re going to remain so.”
Davies’ comments come just days after Prime Minister Mark Carney said his party would not be looking to create a formal deal with the NDP.
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“Short answer, no,” Carney said in response to a reporter’s question about whether he would look to form a formal governing pact with the NDP during a May 2 news conference.
“Why? That is my response,” Carney said when asked why he wouldn’t be seeking a formal agreement with the NDP.
“We campaigned on a very clear set of objectives, very clear policies to back those up,” he said. “By definition in Parliament, we will need to get majority support to pass legislation … we will be putting forth legislation that’s consistent with our platform and consistent with the requirements of the time.”
Davies said he had not spoken with Carney but is planning on asking him to make the NDP an official party.
The NDP and Liberals entered a supply-and-confidence agreement in March 2022. The agreement provided the Liberals with support on confidence votes in the House of Commons, while the NDP were able to put forward some of its agenda, including a federal dental care plan and a pharmacare program.
Former NDP MP Nathan Cullen said he thought Carney’s decision to not seek a formal deal with the NDP was “naive,” saying he may find it difficult to pass confidence votes.
“Carney rules out agreement with the NDP,” Cullen said in a May 2 post on the X platform. “Interesting and, perhaps, naive approach to getting parliament to work. He needs a stable, predictable base to negotiate from. Worrying about every confidence vote (throne speech, budget, etc) is not that.”
Noé Chartier contributed to this article.
