NDP MP Charlie Angus says no deal reached with Liberals after initial meeting

Angus confirmed that "an initial conversation" had taken place between NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

NDP MP Charlie Angus says no deal has been made with the Liberals to prop up Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s minority government for two to three years.

Angus confirmed that “an initial conversation” had taken place between NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Trudeau, but it was no more than “an initial meeting.”

Two NDP sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing matters not public, stressed the talks were “informal.”

Trudeau has had conversations with the leaders of opposition parties since the Sept. 20 election, including Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, Singh and Elizabeth May, the leader of the Greens in Parliament.

Before the Liberal caucus meeting Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly was asked about whether her party was open to working with the NDP, either formally or informally.

“We’re always open to work with all parties. That’s what Canadians expect from us,” she said.

“At the same time I would say that the prime minister had the chance to meet with all other leaders and in that sense we want to make sure that we’re able to get our agenda supported by other parties. At the same time we understand that we need to be working collaboratively.”

The comments follow reports that the two party leaders are thrashing out a deal for the NDP to support the minority Liberal government in exchange for progress on New Democrat priorities.