NDP open to forming coalition with Liberals, Trudeau shuts it down

A prominent New Democrats MP said that his party is willing to form a coalition government with the Liberals if it means toppling the Conservatives from power.

In an interview with the CBC, Skeena—Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen said that the NDP’s goal is to win the upcoming federal election, though the ultimate goal is to have the Tories leave office.

The last time a coalition was discussed of serious magnitude was 2008, which saw NDP leader Jack Layton, Liberal leader Stephane Dion and Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe sign an accord to replace the Conservatives. However, a prorogation of Parliament demanded by Stephen Harper prolonged the deal until the Liberal party leader changed, and eventually saw them back out.

“The Liberal voters that I know are as fed up with Stephen Harper as anybody,” Cullen told the CBC on Wednesday.

Cullen also expressed in his view that Liberal leader Justin Trudeau would be making a huge mistake by backing out.

However, Trudeau announced today that “there will be no formal coalition with the NDP.”

“There are a number of issues that the Liberal Party of Canada and the NDP disagree on quite a fundamental level,” he said in a statement. “Although, of course we are open to work with all parties in the house to pass good legislation and to ensure Canadians’ interests are served.”

“We do not believe in reducing the options Canadians have in the ballot box.”

A poll conducted by Forum Research in April suggested that most Canadians would favour a coalition if the election ends in a minority.

The public opinion survey was completed by 1,365 Canadian voters, in which 58 per cent said they would like to see a coalition to govern if no party gets a majority of seats in Parliament.