Why Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called NDP's Jagmeet Singh ‘Sellout Singh’

Conservative Leader

Pierre Poilievre

has sent a letter to his NDP counterpart, urging Jagmeet Singh to withdraw his party's support for the Liberal government so that Canadians can have an election this fall rather than waiting until next year as scheduled.
"Canadians can't afford or even endure another year of this costly coalition. No one voted for you to keep Trudeau in power.

You do not have a mandate to drag out his government another year," Poilievre stated in his letter.
"Pull out of the costly coalition and vote non-confidence in the government this September to trigger a carbon tax election in October of THIS YEAR. Or you will forever be known as '

Sellout Singh

,'" Poilievre added.

Poilievre's appeal to Singh comes amidst a federal byelection in Manitoba, set for September 16, where a tight race is anticipated between the Conservative and NDP candidates.
Responding to Poilievre, NDP House leader Peter Julian remarked, "leaving the deal is always on the table for Jagmeet Singh."
"Let's be clear: Pierre Poilievre wants to win an election because he wants to cut health care, cut your pension and cut EI in order to give more to big corporations. He wants to ensure pharmacare cannot make it to implementation this fall. We fundamentally disagree with his plans to cut," Julian said.

Julian further stated that the party upholds "the Canadian value of taking care of our neighbours," which "guides us before and after an election."
Trudeau prioritizes 'policy over personalities' Poilievre argued that Singh should push for an election now because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not conduct a "reset" of his cabinet at the government retreat in Halifax this week, despite some Liberal MPs suggesting a shuffle following a significant byelection loss in Toronto-St. Paul's.
When asked why there was no cabinet shuffle, Trudeau emphasized focusing on policy over personalities to improve the government's standing with Canadians.
Trudeau announced stricter regulations on the low-wage temporary foreign worker program, which some experts claim has grown out of control, and hinted at potential changes to the immigration program this fall.
Additionally, Trudeau imposed tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles to support Canada’s auto manufacturing industry against state-subsidized foreign cars.
At a news conference, Poilievre criticized Singh for allegedly betraying the labour movement. The union preferred negotiating at the bargaining table, accusing the government of violating its Charter-protected right to collective bargaining.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon defended the government's action, stating that allowing a work stoppage at Canada's railways would cripple the economy. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland added that prolonging the rail shutdown would have been a "self-inflicted wound."
The Canadian Industrial Relations Board ultimately sided with the Liberal government.
Poilievre targets Singh Poilievre declined to specify his actions if confronted with an economically damaging railway strike.
He noted that the rail stoppage resulted from a wage dispute during a period of high inflation, and claimed that inflation wouldn't be an issue if he were elected.
"Jagmeet Singh, stop selling out the workers, stop being Sellout Singh. Put the people ahead of your pension vote for a carbon tax election now," Poilievre urged, suggesting Singh is delaying an election to qualify for his MP pension.
Singh, who first took office in 2019, will qualify for retirement benefits after completing six years of parliamentary service by the end of February 2025.
Poilievre, elected in 2004, qualified for his pension in 2010.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, speaking at a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on August 29, 2024, emphasized that "Justin Trudeau will not quit — he must be fired — and the person to do it is Jagmeet Singh."