The Conservatives鈥� first shot at toppling the Liberal government is likely doomed to fail, after Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his MPs will vote confidence in the government.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday his party is putting forward a non-confidence motion next week and the wording is very straight forward.
鈥淭he House has no confidence in the Prime Minister and the Government,鈥� the motion will state, a spokesperson for Poilievre has confirmed to CTV News.
Poilievre says he鈥檚 doing this to force a "carbon tax election."
It will be the party鈥檚 first chance to topple Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 minority government since the Liberals鈥� supply-and-confidence deal with the NDP ended earlier this month.
The first Conservative opposition day of the fall sitting has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, with a vote then coming next Wednesday.
But Blanchet threw cold water on the issue, telling reporters, 鈥淭he answer is no,鈥� his party will not vote with the Conservatives.
鈥淲e have already had this conversation many times,鈥� Blanchet said in French. 鈥淭he motion contains absolutely nothing. It essentially says 鈥榳ould you like to replace Justin Trudeau with Pierre Poilievre,鈥� so the answer is no.鈥�
The Bloc leader added his party serves Quebecers, not Conservatives, and the two groups are not one and the same.
When asked whether his comments mean he has confidence in the prime minister and his government, Blanchet smiled and said 鈥渘o.鈥�
But, he explained, it does mean he has 鈥渞easonable confidence鈥� he can push the Liberals for progress on Bloc legislative priorities.
Poilievre also put the NDP on notice to support the motion.
鈥淚 also call on the NDP. Don't wait for the Bloc to bail you out. You announce your position on this motion to trigger a carbon tax election,鈥� Poilievre said. 鈥淣ow you have the motion. It's in your inbox.鈥�
In order for the motion to pass, the majority of the current 336 MPs would need to vote to say they no longer have confidence in Trudeau.
Right now, the Liberals hold 154 seats, and the Conservatives have 119. After Monday鈥檚 byelections, there are now 33 Bloc MPs and 25 New Democrats. The Green party holds two seats and there are also three Independents.
The total Liberal and Bloc votes would therefore be enough to quash the motion.
Liberal MPs were asked about the non-confidence motion on their way to a caucus meeting on Wednesday. Several of them said they are not concerned about the vote.
鈥淲e're ready for a confidence vote,鈥� Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said. 鈥淚 think it's important that we actually get the first one out of the way.鈥�
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said 鈥渢he last thing Canadians want is instability.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 confident that (the NDP) understand the mood of Canadians, and the mood of Canadians is not to get into an election,鈥� Champagne said.
鈥淭his is not a game,鈥� said Government House Leader Karina Gould when asked about her confidence in getting support from the NDP and Bloc Quebecois.
Gould also directly spoke to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh鈥檚 decision to pull out of his party鈥檚 deal with the Liberals.
鈥淚f he cares about climate change, if he cares about pharmacare, if he cares about dental care, if he cares about a progressive agenda for Canadians, he鈥檚 going to have to demonstrate that to Canadians,鈥� Gould said.
With files from CTV News鈥� Rachel Aiello and Spencer Van Dyk
