Freeland Says She Had a ‘Good Conversation’ With NDP Finance Critic on Budget Support

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on Feb. 13, 2024. The Canadian Press/Patrick Doyle

The New Democrats have yet to say whether they will vote for the Liberals’ proposed 2024 bill, although Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says she was in discussions with the NDP’s finance critic over the weekend.

Ms. Freeland was in Montreal on April 22 following a tour of a start-up company and was asked by reporters about the NDP’s critical support of the federal budget.

“We have had good conversations with the NDP as we built the budget all along the way,” she said. “I had a very good conversation with my finance critic, Don Davies, over the weekend.”

While she did not say whether she expected the NDP to vote in favour of the budget, Ms. Freeland said she hoped MPs from all parties would back the proposed spending.

During a press conference on April 22, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party was still undecided about the budget, saying there are positives like pharmacare and renter protection although disability benefits are too low.

“So we’ve got to hear from the prime minister and the Liberals on what their response is to our concerns before we make a decision,” he said.

If the NDP refuses to vote for the budget, it would mean the collapse of the supply and confidence deal between the NDP and the Liberals that is keeping the Liberals in government until June 2025.

Since the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois have already stated they will vote against the budget, the loss of NDP votes could signal that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has lost the confidence of the House of Commons and lead to a snap federal election.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet spoke to reporters last week and appeared confident that Mr. Singh and the NDP would support the budget. “We already know what will happen. Mr. Singh will come here and find an explanation for his keeping supporting the Liberals.”

Mr. Trudeau, Ms. Freeland, and others have touted various programs in the budget, from housing investments to defence spending.

The environment has also been a major theme as the Liberal government tries to encourage investment in alternate forms of energy through tax credits.

Ms. Freelance was asked about tax credits for major auto manufacturers like Honda, which is set to announce an electric vehicle battery plant near its auto manufacturing facility in Alliston, Ont., according to The Canadian Press. She refused to address Honda specifically but stated, “Our investment tax credits are playing a big role in making Canada so attractive for investment.”

According to a report from the Financial Post, Ms. Freeland has been involved in trying to attract Honda to make major investments in Canada and create new facilities to manufacture electric vehicles in Ontario, a deal that could be worth as much as US$14 billion.

The EV tax credit in the 2024 budget would apply to 10 percent of the cost of buildings used for the manufacture of electric vehicles, with the Financial Post claiming the move was done in a deliberate bid to attract Honda.