The New Democratic Party in Canada said it has "torn up" a key agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government, causing uncertainty in the country's politics as party leaders prepare for possible elections.

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh made the surprise announcement on social media Wednesday afternoon, accusing Trudeau of "caving in" to corporate greed, and said: "The Liberals have let people down; they do not deserve another chance from Canadians."

Support for the Liberals to protect them from confidence votes 

After the Liberals led by Trudeau won a minority of seats in Parliament in 2021, the New Democratic Party agreed to support the party to protect them from confidence votes that could lead to the government's downfall.

The agreement, known as the Confidence and Supply Agreement, was set to last until June 2025.

In exchange for supporting the Liberals, the New Democratic Party managed to push for a new dental care program for low-income Canadians, plans for a national pharmaceutical care program, and legislation to ban the use of replacement workers during lockouts or strikes.

However, the Liberals have seen a dramatic drop in support in recent months as Conservative popularity has risen in polls, and they are widely seen as the clear front-runners in the upcoming federal election. 

At the same time, a series of policies adopted by the New Democratic Party, which were passed into law, have made it difficult for the New Democratic Party to disentangle itself from the Liberal brand.

Singh defended the decision, citing a "larger battle ahead" in the form of "Conservative cuts" to government programs.

Singh said: "From workers, from retirees, from youth, from the sick, from families - the 'Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre' will cut to give more to big corporations and wealthy CEOs."

"The truth is that the Liberals are too weak, too selfish, and too surrendered to corporate interests to fight for the people, they cannot bring change, they cannot restore hope, they cannot stop the Conservatives. But we can."

The Conservatives had previously attacked Singh as a "traitor" for his role in the deal, and last week Poilievre called on Singh and the New Democratic Party to cancel their agreement with the Liberals and launch a campaign in the fall.

The New Democratic Party's decision does not trigger an election, but the party stated it is "ready for an election, and a confidence vote will be on the table with every confidence measure."