Opposition consider motion to defeat Tories
Liberals, NDP discuss possibility of forming two-party coalition
Meagan Fitzpatrick and Juliet O'Neill, Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, November 28, 2008
The plan was hatched on Friday as Liberal and New Democratic Party officials discussed the possibility of forming a two-party coalition. In addition they would be supported through an accord with the Bloc Quebecois and offer an alternative government representing the majority of MPs in the House of Commons.
The motion on which the government might be defeated reads:
"That, in light of the Conservatives' failure to recognize the seriousness of Canada's economic situation, and its failure in particular to present any credible plan to stimulate the Canadian economy and to help workers and businesses in hard-pressed sectors such as manufacturing, the automotive industry and forestry, this House has lost confidence in this government, and is of the opinion that a viable alternative government can be formed within the present House of Commons."
The move would be designed to deprive Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his newly elected government from arguing that the opposition parties want to defeat them only to retain millions of dollars in political party finances the government proposes to abolish.
The Opposition motion would mean the government would fall before a scheduled early Monday evening vote on a confidence motion to implement some of the measures the government announced in the fiscal update Thursday.
MPs appeared determined to hold their ground Friday even though Harper's spokesman Kory Teneycke said that while the government won't back down on the controversial proposal to eliminate subsidies for federal political parties, the measure will not be part of the confidence vote on Monday.
Liberal and NDP officials laid out the possible scenario in the corridors of Parliament Hill as MPs from all three opposition parties emphasized their outrage at the government is over the lack of measures to stimulate the economy as the recession sets in.
"There's no stimulus package," said deputy NDP leader Thomas Mulcair. "Yes, there are some parts of it that could always be brought back that would help some people but overall, a total lack of vision and failure to stimulate the economy, unlike every other major nation or entity in the world that has realized that there is a serious economic problem."
The Liberals, following question period Friday morning, said unless they see some more action from the Conservatives on the economy, they too will not support them.
"This is not about politics, it's about people and until Stephen Harper presents a proposal to Parliament that helps people during these tough economic times, we won't support him," Scott Brison said.
If the opposition parties are successful in defeating the government, they could ask the Governor General to allow them to form a coalition government.
Liberal John McCallum would not comment on that prospect even though party officials have confirmed talks are ongoing.
"We are not going to speculate beyond to say that we will vote against and beyond saying that the political funding issue is not essential to our concerns," he said.
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=1005475
1 comment:
I heard that Harper can avert this, something he can use to avoid being defeated..... do you know of this?
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