Politics This Morning: Trudeau to meet with Singh; Senator Bellemare leaves role on government team

Good Thursday morning, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he's prepared to vote against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Speech from the Throne if it doesn't reflect his party's priorities, including a commitment on a pharmacare. Withholding his support won't necessarily spell the defeat of Mr. Trudeau's government, which just needs 13 outside votes (or 14, depending if the elected Speaker comes from the Liberal caucus). Mr. Trudeau could count on the Bloc's or Greens' support, which would give him 35 votes, more than enough to prevent the government's fall, even if the NDP or the Conservatives vote against the speech. The two are scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. in the PM's West Block office. Mr. Singh's presser is set for 10:15 a.m. in the House foyer. In a tweet, Mr. Singh offered a preview of his demands, including a call on the government to drop its appeal of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal's ruling ordering the government to pay $40,000 to each First Nations child (and their families) caught up in the government's child-welfare system. The government is also in talks to settle a proposed class-action suit worth $6-billion, that's been filed on behalf of those affected by the system. Parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May, who is fourth in line to meet with the PM, has also called on the feds to abandon its appeal. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is scheduled to meet with the PM at 9:30 p.m. at West Block. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Mr. Trudeau met with Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, who signalled where the Liberals can expect co-operation from his party, saying that he's prepared to back their efforts to mitigate climate change, but will remain on the sidelines when it comes to efforts to build bridges with Western Canada. Mr. Blanchet didn't rule out extending his support, saying that he "might be tempted to help them" if they make an effort to "create a green state." The PM has been meeting with opposition leaders and premiers in the lead-up to his cabinet reveal next Wednesday. One of the government's reps in the Senate has stepped down. Senator Diane Bellemare, who served as the legislative deputy to Peter Harder, the government's rep in the Red Chamber, is moving on from her post to "focus on other parliamentary projects that are close to my heart." In other news, the Liberal Party is hosting its convention in Ottawa a year from now, with the dates set for Nov. 12-15. The Hill Times

Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Trudeau to meet with Singh; Senator Bellemare leaves role on government team

Ahead of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's meeting with the PM, he said in a presser yesterday that if his party's priorities, specifically pharmacare, aren't reflected in the Speech from the Throne, he would 'absolutely be open to voting against' it.

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Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Trudeau to meet with Singh; Senator Bellemare leaves role on government team

Ahead of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's meeting with the PM, he said in a presser yesterday that if his party's priorities, specifically pharmacare, aren't reflected in the Speech from the Throne, he would 'absolutely be open to voting against' it.

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