NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has said his party is unlikely to withdraw its support for the Liberals if the Emergency Public Order Commission examining the federal government’s invocation of the Measures Act emergency concludes that this was not justified.
In an interview on CTV’s Question Period, Singh said New Democrats will reserve judgment until the full facts are out by the national inquiry. But, hypothetically speaking, “just because it was the wrong decision wouldn’t be enough for us to break up, or to force the country to hold an election.”
The NDP backed the Liberals’ invocation of the Emergencies Act, citing national security concerns, allowing police and officials to use unprecedented powers to end protests that have lasted for weeks .
Singh said he does not want to presuppose what Commissioner Paul Rouleau will conclude in his report due to Parliament by February 20, and that his party is in full agreement in determining whether or not to invoke the emergency measures was, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it, a “last resort”.
“We’ve always said we wanted to know if this was the only option, if there were other options, if there were better approaches that could have been taken. And we fully support a full and transparent investigation. about it,” Singh said.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Rouleau said the commission’s focus will remain “squarely on the decision of the federal government.” In particular: Why did he declare an emergency? How did he use his powers? And were these actions appropriate?
It is expected that the final report to Parliament will indicate how to prevent similar events from happening again and will indicate whether the Emergency Measures Act and the related regulatory framework need to be amended.
The NDP leader said his basis for supporting the government’s decision in February was based on the evidence known at the time.
“We knew that the convoy was a serious problem for the workers, for our economy, the closings of bridges and borders had led to massive losses… So there was serious harm. And in Ottawa, what was happening was horrible. “, Singh said. “So stopping him was something that I supported. And it is clear that the invocation solved this situation.”
As the commission continues to hear testimony illuminating the circumstances that led the government to invoke the Emergency Measures Act, Singh said it was clear there were actions the police could have taken Much sooner.
In deciding to strike a mutually beneficial confidence and supply agreement a month after Trudeau revoked the Emergencies Act, the NDP pledged to support minority Liberals in the House of Commons in return for progress on priorities longtime member of the NDP.
While the deal was recently tested with the advancement of a trio of affordability commitments, Singh said the NDP “always has the right to withdraw its support” whether due to potential revelations of this investigation or a failure of the government to act on elements of their agreement.