Liberals ‘are ready’ for a non-confidence vote, MPs say as test looms

As the Conservatives prepare a motion to try to declare non-confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, Liberal MPs say they are ready to face a vote as early as next week.

The first opposition day has been tentatively scheduled for Sept. 24, a spokesperson for Liberal House leader Karina Gould’s office told Global News Tuesday.

Conservatives will be allowed to set the agenda for the House of Commons and say they plan to introduce a motion that will state: “The House has no confidence in the Prime Minister and the Government.”

The Liberal minority government will need the support of at least one other party to survive the vote on that motion, which will happen on Sept. 25.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said it’s “time to put forward a motion for a carbon tax election.”

“We need a carbon tax election so Canadians can vote to axe the tax, build their homes, fix the budget and stop the crime with a commonsense conservative government,” he told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday.

Liberal MPs were asked about the upcoming vote on their way to a caucus meeting on Wednesday.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the Liberals will need the support of other parties, but he said he was “quite confident that Canadians want the Parliament to work.”

“Obviously, we have to find ways to work together with some of the other opposition parties. I think we’re ready for a confidence vote. I think it’s important that we actually get the first one out of the way,” he said.

Justice Minister Arif Virani said he was “not concerned” about the vote and that his only concern was to get through the legislative agenda set for Parliament, such as seeing the online harms bill get passed.

Industry Minister