Tories give notice of non-confidence motion over federal response to ongoing protest

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Andrew Scheer and the Conservative Party have hinted they could be going after the federal government.

The Tories have put several motions on notice, including one of non-confidence in response to how the federal Liberals have dealt with ongoing protests and blockades across the country, and how the prime minister seems to be in no rush to solve the issue.

“Tomorrow is an Opposition Day for us, so that’s routine that we put a number of different motions on, and then choose which one we’re going to proceed on,” Conservative House Leader Candice Bergen said on Wednesday. “It is very common to have a motion that does indicate that the Opposition doesn’t have confidence in the government. It doesn’t mean that we’re going to go on that, but it’s definitely on notice.”

Bergen said after a “weak response” from Trudeau in addressing ongoing protesters and blockades, the Conservatives are not “particularly impressed.”

“Nor do we think that it’s going to solve this crisis,” she added.

The Conservative house leader said it would be clear which motion the party would go on later in the day on Wednesday.

“But I think we definitely, as a leadership team and as a caucus, are extremely frustrated and we’ve just seen the response of the Liberals as being very weak in terms of trying to deal with the crisis that Canadians are facing with these illegal blockades,” she said.

Conservative House Leader @CandiceBergenMP says a non-confidence motion against Trudeau government has been put on notice over the rail blockades.
It’s one of several potential motions the CPC could put forward for tomorrow’s opposition day, but no decisions made #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/NDQlVSu0fi

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 19, 2020

On Wednesday, Justin Trudeau said his government was “working extremely hard to resolve this situation,” while on his way into a Liberal caucus meeting.

He said it was unacceptable that there are now supply shortages and layoffs as a result of ongoing blockades.

The federal government could not provide a timeline as CN Rail announced 450 temporarily layoffs due to blockades.

Via Rail, Canada’s main intercity passenger rail company, announced it would be temporarily suspending close to 1,000 employees because of blockades to the nation’s rail network.

The company cited cancellation of services on a large part of its network

“This general interruption is an unprecedented situation in our history. In 42 years of existence, it is the first time that VIA Rail, a public intercity passenger rail service, has to interrupt most of its services across the country,” Cynthia Garneau, Via’s CEO, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Crown Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett would not discuss demands from some Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs that RCMP leave the territory in north central B.C. before talks could begin.

Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau gave brief remarks on the rail blockades on his way into Liberal caucus #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/cAuyg8Amcf

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 19, 2020