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Canada’s Justin Trudeau faces no-confidence vote in major test

Conservative rival Pierre Poilievre, who introduced the motion, is far ahead in opinion polls and itching for a snap election

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at the Global Progress Action Summit in Montreal on Saturday. Photo: Canadian Press via AP

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s main rival in Canada’s parliament on Tuesday introduced a motion of no confidence in the ruling Liberals, in the first major test of his unpopular minority government.

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Following a debate in the House of Commons, a vote on the long-shot Conservative motion is scheduled on Wednesday.

Far ahead in public opinion polls, Tory leader Pierre Poilievre has been itching for a snap election since the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP) earlier this month tore up a coalition agreement with the Liberals, leaving the Trudeau administration vulnerable to being toppled.

Kicking off the debate, a combative Poilievre railed against Trudeau for what he said was a failure to address soaring costs of living, a housing crisis and crime, while doubling the national debt.

He said the promise of Canada, “after nine years of Liberal government, is broken”.

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If elected prime minister, he said he would legislate “a common sense plan to axe the tax [on carbon emissions], build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime”.

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