Winnipeg’s newest MP welcomed in caucus as potential non-confidence looms

Leila Dance getting her welcome to the NDP caucus in Ottawa on Wednesday, calling in from Winnipeg, where she is now the representative of the Elmwood-Transcona riding.

“You know, I heard on the doorstep over and over again about the NDP dental care program, getting to meet people who actually got to access it was amazing, so we need to make sure that we continue to fight for those types of things and all of the services that we have been talking about for the last 15 weeks on the doorsteps,” said Dance.

Dance received 48 per cent of the vote in Elmwood-Transcona, the Conservatives receiving 44 per cent. Meanwhile, the Liberals received roughly 4 per cent.

“We’ve seen the Liberals and Justin Trudeau have left people down. People are fed up. They feel like the situation and things in their lives have gotten worse. The Liberals and Justin Trudeau don’t deserve another chance,” explained NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

“We’ve shown again and again and have said again and again that New Democrats can beat Conservatives, well we showed that in the byelection.”

It’s been two weeks since Singh pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals, increasing the likelihood that an election will be called early.

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“I know the NDP do not want to go to an election right now. They are way down in the polls. They are way below 20 per cent in all the polls recently, so it would be foolish for the NDP to precipitate an election right now,” said Christopher Adams, a political science professor with the University of Manitoba.

Adams says the Elmwood-Transcona seat was critically important for Singh and the NDP. On the other hand, the byelection in Montreal was critically important for Trudeau and the Liberals, but in the last few months, Trudeau has lost two major seats in both Montreal and Toronto.

Adams says this has serious repercussions for the Liberals, with polls favouring the Conservatives.

“There are times when the polls tell you one thing and then something happens and then something unexpected happens. I would say if an election were held today, the Conservatives will win a landslide and that is why Poilievre is pushing for a non-confidence vote in Parliament.”

Poilievre is set to introduce a non-confidence motion next week in a bid to trigger an election, and if the motion clears, Canadians could be headed to the polls this fall.