On Bloc Québécois Demand to Back Liberals, Trudeau Says Ready to Work With ‘Any Progressives’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a news conference in Vancouver on June 25, 2024. The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns

As the Liberal government appears set to survive a first non-confidence vote in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he’s open to discussions about doing more for seniors, a key demand of the Bloc Québécois.

Speaking to reporters in New York City on Sept. 24, Trudeau didn’t commit to supporting the Bloc’s Bill C-319 to amend the Old Age Security Act. He said, however, he’s “always ready to talk about what more we can do for vulnerable seniors.”

“I’m going to continue to work with any progressives in this House that want to deliver for Canadians in concrete ways,” he said.

The prime minister said the dental care plan introduced by his government has helped seniors and noted the Bloc voted against the legislation.

After the NDP earlier this month broke its deal with the minority Liberals keeping them in power until June 2025, the Bloc said it would seek to make gains from the government in exchange for support in confidence votes.

The Bloc has mentioned seeking to obtain government support to push C-319 through the House of Commons as a priority.

Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet said last week the bill is at the “very centre of the survival of this government.” It would increase the Old Age Security (OAS) pension by 10 percent for seniors aged 65 to 74, as the government had done for seniors over 75 in its 2021 budget.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer said the cost of the measure proposed by the Bloc would be over $3 billion in fiscal year 2024-2025.

Given the private member’s bill affects the budget, the Speaker of the House stated last year it requires a royal recommendation—approval from a cabinet minister—before a final vote.

Bloc House Leader Alain Therrien told the Commons on Sept. 19 the Liberals have two choices, both of which “come at a cost.”

“Either they increase old age security by 10% for seniors aged 65 to 74, or they will pay for it, politically speaking,” he said. “The Liberals are going to pay for it one way or another.”

Debate on the Conservative motion of non-confidence in the government took place on Sept. 24, with the vote scheduled for later in the week. The Bloc and the NDP have already said they will vote against it, giving the Liberals some respite and preventing the triggering of a snap election.

Therrien said during debate his party would give the government a chance, while noting there could be many more confidence votes between now and Christmas.

Blanchet, who was pressed by Quebec Premier François Legault to vote against the government, has defended his party’s stance, saying “I’m propping up nobody.”

“I never support Liberals ... I go against the Conservatives on a vote that is only about Pierre Poilievre and his huge ambition for himself,” he told reporters on Sept. 19.

Poilievre, who tabled the motion of non-confidence, told the House on Sept. 20 that Blanchet has turned his back on Quebecers by supporting the Liberals. The Tory leader noted Legault’s comment about temporary immigration causing huge strains on services.

“Will the leader of the Bloc Québécois do what the Premier of the Quebec nation is asking, and reconsider supporting this Liberal government next week?” said Poilievre.