POLITICS WATCH: Prime Minister Justin........>

CANADA: POLITICS WATCH: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal

government opens a session of Parliament Monday, with first priority a motion to

ratify USMCA.

-Government has 157 of 338 seats in House of Commons and needs support from at

least 1 of 3 opposition parties to pass laws and confidence motions to stay in

power.

-Liberals can likely survive with Conservatives holding leadership race, NDP

facing weaker support and Bloc Quebecois saying it's willing to cooperate with

Trudeau.

-Finance Minister Bill Morneau may introduce full budget with plans for deficits

and debt ~30% of GDP before new fiscal year starts April 1. House of Commons due

to sit from Jan. 27-Feb. 7, take weeklong break, return Feb. 18-March 13. Takes

another break and sits March 23-April 3. 

-Trudeau also said last week he will work to reduce dependency on US for

resource exports, advance plans to tackle climate change.