21/12/2024
This publisher's desk appears in the December 2024 issue of Monsoon Journal.
Freeland’s Resignation a Very Strategic Move, says Professor Amarasingam
By Harrish Thirukumaran
Canada has just witnessed an incredible shakeup in its already fragile politics as we head into the holiday period and the New Year. On December 16, 2024, Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, announced she was resigning from her Cabinet post. And it has taken the media and public circles by storm, spelling further trouble for the Liberal Party’s electoral prospects.
Accordingly, this occurred mere hours before Justin Trudeau’s government was set to deliver its fall economic statement. It is especially crucial given that Canadians have continued to struggle with the rising cost of living, an issue that they urge the government to do more about.
This recent event puts even more pressure on the government under Trudeau to call an election, as discussed in a previous issue of the Monsoon.
I spoke with Amarnath Amarasingam, a professor at Queen’s University, who had a few things to say about Freeland’s resignation.
Below is a list of questions and answers from our conversation:
Q1. If you had to briefly summarize recent developments in Canadian politics, what exactly does Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland’s surprise resignation mean for Canadians generally?
A1. “I think it goes to show that there is an increasing sentiment in the party itself that is not favourable to having Trudeau continue on as leader. It was also a very strategic move on her part to set herself up as leader.”
Q2. Do you see Justin Trudeau resigning as Prime Minister based on reports of infighting and calls for a revolt within his own caucus?
A2. “I think he sees himself as a fighter and will likely hold on for as long as possible. He will kick the can down the road a bit with the hope that the passage of time over the holidays and the Trump inauguration may improve his political chances domestically.”
Q3. You mentioned Freeland’s resignation letter reads more like a campaign speech and she herself mentions that she will be running for her seat in the next election, do you see her as a likely candidate for a potential leadership race if called by the Liberal Party?
A3. “It is hard to believe that she did what she did and wrote the letter the way she did without having an eye to eventual leadership.”
Q4. Former Conservative House Leader, Peter Van Loan noted that he sees Trudeau proroguing parliament as the most likely scenario but not set in stone. You mentioned that he did not do that, but for our purposes what does prorogation mean exactly?
A4. “Proroguing Parliament means temporarily suspending its activities without dissolving it. It is a power exercised by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. When Parliament is prorogued all legislative business is halted, committees cease their work, MPs and Senators are not required to attend sessions, and so on.”
Q5. Also, if he did not call it, do you think it is possible for that to still take place?
A5. “Yes, he can still do it.”
Q6. Are there any past examples of parliament being prorogued in Canadian political history?
A6. “The most recent examples are when Prime Minister Harper prorogued parliament in the mid and late 2000s in order to avoid a non-confidence vote himself. So, we are seeing very similar dynamics play out here.”
Q7. What would the benefits of proroguing parliament be from Trudeau’s perspective?
A7. “It allows the government to reset its legislative agenda, clearing unfinished bills and introducing new priorities through a Speech from the Throne. It provides time to regroup, reshuffle the Cabinet, or manage controversies without parliamentary scrutiny. Prorogation can preempt opposition tactics, such as non-confidence votes, and shift public attention away from contentious issues.”
Q8. What are confidence votes?
A8. “Confidence votes are votes in the House of Commons that test whether the government has the support of a majority of MPs. Maintaining this confidence is essential for the government to remain in power. If the government loses a confidence vote, it typically resigns or calls for an election.”
Q9. Even though the NDP has voted in confidence throughout the duration of the fall 2024 sitting of Parliament, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh called for Trudeau’s resignation and the NDP's House leader, Peter Julian told the CBC that its members would vote in favour of a no-confidence motion if the prime minister was still leader in the New Year.
Do you see the NDP as having the political guts to vote in favour of a non-confidence motion, forcing a snap election?
A9. “This is the big question. The Liberal party doesn’t seem like it can survive with NDP support. The NDP also stands to suffer if a new election is called. They don’t really have the funds or support to run a good election at the moment. So, they are in a tough spot. But, after having said that Trudeau needs to resign so vocally, it would be hard for them to switch course in the new year and vote in his favor. But, anything is possible I guess.”
It is also worth mentioning at the time of writing, NDP Leader, Jagmeet Singh recently opened up on why he is asking Trudeau to resign but stopping short of supporting a motion of non-confidence. “Why would I box myself in and say I'm going to do something definitive when we don't know what's going to happen?” as he stated to CTV News in an interview. This is in reference to the recent announcement of tariffs that US President-elect Donald Trump intends to impose on Canada. He further notes that he wants to wait to see until Canadians get a better sense of what this means for the country. However, this direction changed after he announced via a letter to Canadians that he will forward and support a vote of non-confidence in Trudeau’s government on December 20, 2024. The NDP Leader plans to carry this out when the opportunity presents itself in parliament as Trudeau shuffled his cabinet on the same day.
The New Year shall spell for interesting, albeit uncertain times for Canadians like the readers here and myself. As mentioned in our previous issue, the electorate should stay informed about the current direction of Canada’s politics as well as exercise their right to vote. While it is a matter of when the next federal election takes place in 2025, Canadians should prepare themselves to select a government that can lead us in the best way possible during these difficult times.
