In Canadian parliamentary procedure, a confidence motion is a formal vote held in the House of Commons to test whether the governing party or coalition retains the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament (MPs). Confidence motions are typically initiated by the government, but they can also be brought forward by opposition parties.
There are two main types of confidence motions:
Explicit Confidence Motion: This is a motion explicitly stating that the House of Commons expresses confidence in the government. A government that loses such a vote is generally expected to resign or seek dissolution of Parliament, leading to a new election.
Implicit Confidence Motion: This type of confidence motion is not explicitly labeled as a motion of confidence but is nonetheless considered as such due to its significance. For example, if a crucial piece of government legislation fails to pass, or if the government is defeated on a major policy decision, it may be interpreted as a loss of confidence and could prompt the government to resign or request a dissolution of Parliament.
Confidence motions are fundamental to the functioning of a parliamentary democracy like Canada's, as they serve as a mechanism to ensure that the government maintains the support of the elected representatives. If the government loses a confidence motion, it signifies that it no longer has the mandate to govern effectively, potentially leading to changes in government leadership or the calling of new elections.
