Canada's Opposition Parties May Topple Conservative Government

TORONTO — Opposition parties said Friday they may seek to topple Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government and form a ruling coalition, charging that the Conservatives haven't done enough to rescue Canada from the global economic crisis.

Harper blasted the opposition in a televised address. "They want to take power, not earn it," said Harper, whose Conservatives won enough votes in the Oct. 14 election to stay in power.

The opposition Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois are discussing the option of a new government despite last month's vote, said Karl Belanger, a spokesman for NDP leader Jack Layton.

The Liberals said they are considering introducing a motion declaring no confidence in the minority Conservative government but no decision has been made. A defeat on such a vote by Harper's party could set the stage for another election or give the opposition a chance to form a government.

No federal government has ever been ousted in favor of an opposition coalition.

Though Harper's party retained power last month, it did not win the majority of parliament's 308 seats and must rely on opposition support to pass budgets and legislation.

Opposition members in parliament said they cannot support the government's updated fiscal plan, introduced by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on Thursday, because it offers no stimulus package to deal with the global meltdown.

The opposition said it was considering introducing a motion on Monday, but Harper said he was delaying all votes that could topple his government until Dec. 8.

Harper defended his response to the economic crisis, saying he had acted to keep taxes low and that in the next couple of months his party will introduce a budget that will includes a stimulus package.

He said the opposition's only concern is taking over the government.

"The opposition has every right to defeat the government, but (Liberal leader) Stephane Dion does not have the right to take power without an election," Harper said. "It should be your choice, not theirs."

Liberal lawmaker John McCallum sought to reassure markets of the potential change in government.

"I understand that the global economy, the Canadian economy is fragile, so I want the business community, the financial community to know that should we form the government, that the stability of our financial system and of our economy will be uppermost in our mind every step of the way," McCallum said.

The opposition has also objected to Harper's plans to scrap public subsidies for political parties. The opposition relies on the subsidies far more than Harper's Conservatives, who have raised twice as much in donations as the three opposition parties combined.

Comments

[Canadiannie]

In a miscalculated attempt to gain a majority in Parliament, Stephen Harper called an election which happened only 2 months ago. This was an election the country’s population didn’t want, and it went against election law brought in by his own party.
What he couldn’t foresee was the financial meltdown which occurred after he called the election. He ended up gaining only 10 seats in Parliament and still being a minority government. Then his Finance Minister Jim Flaherty comes out with an updated financial plan that totally fails to address the current financial crisis that the Conservatives have consistently downplayed…and IMHO, mainly out of hubris and pettiness ( which this Prime Minister and his party have elevated to a fine art) also cuts funding to political parties based on the seats they get in an election. If this has brought the other parties together to form a coalition and possibly introduce a non-confidence motion, then bring it on! Canada needs a government that will address the serious global financial crisis in a way that will stimulate jobs and economic growth. And hopefully the coalition, if it occurs, will work together and not descend into the bickering and power plays that seem so endemic in politics .

[ilurnkwik]

Perhaps you are all correct. I suffered more than some with Mike Harris and want to vomit when I think of the man. I also don't usually vote conservative. And maybe it is Tim's mentality, and I am very impressed with all of your statistics. You are all superior in intelligence. Good for you. ( I do know how the election works, I was trying to not be "wordy", but thanks for the tutorial.

Before I voted this time, I tried very hard to find as much material as possible to read, and found very little. It would seem most people vote for the "nicest" candidate. I followed the presidential election and certainly would have voted for Obama. We don't have an Obama in the wings. Perhaps by the time Justin Trudeau feels he's ready, the Liberals will have gained back some confidence.

I am just an ordinary Canadian citizen with an opinion. Don't have a degree in Political Science like the rest of you. Sorry for butting in, but just a thought, maybe there's too many of you "smart" people not listening to an ordinary individual.

[aspadeisaspade]

The name "Mike Harris" still sends shivers down my spine. Evil, evil, evil.

[ObserverinVancouver]

Justin Trudeau has not shown any leadership qualities apart from his name and I hope we don't go there.

[Y2KCockroach]

Please don't take it personally "ilurnkwik". Your earlier post created much discussion, and generated quite a few responses. That is a good thing. Welcome to the HuffPo community! Please keep posting, and don't ever be afraid to write what you are thinking. We won't always agree (hell, you and I might never agree), but your opinion is as worthy as anyone else's on this board.

[CeeCee]

I can tell you I felt the same way as you about Mike Harris.

[BushBites]

Conservatism belongs in the dustbin of history.

[BushBites]

Must be nice to live in a country where you don't have to spend 3.5 years with a lame duck nobody likes in charge.

[jnratliff]

Let's hope they are able to get rid of them afterall there is nothing that could help the world more then getting rid of these conservative morons! Any way possible!

[sunzen]

If our country had any courage we would have done the same thing back in 2000.

[ZimboChick]

Canadians make me proud. They speak on it! Ok so is Stephane Dion stepping down or not (as Liberal Leader)? I hate what CTV did to him - just low. I like Jack Layton - I can almost see him as Prime Minister but I doubt the Liberals will allow it. I think the three parties should merge.

What is happening with the Green Party and the Marijuana Party?

[smacklooshis]

I'm a Canadian living overseas. I haven't heard anything about the Marijuana Party (is it just a provincial party?) As for the Greens, I'm constantly being told by people back home that they love the idea of the party, but that so far the leaders and personalities of the party have failed to make good impressions on the voters that could become their base.

[ObserverinVancouver]

Basically all the Greens have done is take votes from the Liberals and NDP. It is particularly galling re Liberals because Stephane Dion is a real environmentalist.

[sedum]

I believe that the Pot Party's leader would prefer that seniors be set on ice floes to tend to themselves and consequently isn't a fave amongst too many Canadians.

Well maybe conservatives.

[rgdot]

The sooner there is some sort of electoral reform up here in the north the better, or at least the so-called left better come up with something similar to the old Reform/Conservative alliance to stop Harper and friends from destroying Canada. I say 'so-called' because the Liberals are not always center even (much like the democrats, witness the story on the front page of HuffPo about the struggle between centers of the party) but that's another discussion.
Most of all this obsession with cutting corporate taxes is sickening, like there has ever been a case where corporations have gone on a spending (hiring, etc) spree because they pay less taxes...

[BrettnCalgary]

We don't need electoral reform so much as better candidates on the left, seriously, Bob Rae?

[canucklivinginUSA]

So wait, now Canadian Liberals are not liberal enough? Give me a break, you merkins have no idea what liberal truly means. The day that I can walk on the street and smoke a doobie, or the day that I can go party all night and when I can buy alcohol on Sunday, then the US would be liberal. You guys are not even close to being truly liberal

[Elliott32]

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Harper sucks! And remember during the primaries, Harper's government smeared Obama over NAFTA. Good riddance.... Thank you, Canucks! ;-)

[HappyNuck]

I'd put on money on the fact that that was an operation that came through Harper's neo-con connections through characters like Tom Flanagan to US Republicans. They have strong back channel alliances with the neo-con PNAC types. Harper would have been only too happy to see Obama go down in defeat.

[Mannock]

The Liberals have always been better money managers than the Tories, delivering big surpluses, great GNP rates and low unemployment rates. The Tories squandered what the Liberals took 13 years to save after the last Tory fiasco of Brian Mulroney. The coalition is looking to Ralph Goodale to lead. Goodale was smeared by the Tories in a bogus financial scandal. The Tories, to the person, are all idiots.

Except Jim Prentice. If HE took over the Tories, they would get that needed majority. He is smart, pragmatic and unlike Harper Jim Prentice actually likes people. How refreshing.

[HappyNuck]

If a traditional Progressive Conservative took over that party, I wouldn't live in fear of them having a majority. I probably wouldn't like a lot of what they might do, but I wouldn't be afraid of them. There are still one or two traditional PCs remaining in their ranks like Prentice.

Harper, I'm afraid of.

[Mannock]

Hear, hear!

[CanadianforObama]

And he's shown us ample reasons to fear him.

[ribe8g]

Glad to hear it.

[MPeter]

Harper has been trying to be a Bush clone from day one. He tried politics of fear; tried to politicize terrorsim and ordinary crime, tried to politics of personal destruction on Dion and even rejected the reality of envoromental damage or Green Gases just like Bush did. And, just when every smart economist and politician was sounding an alarm on the dire economic times, he pulled off a McCain, saying it is a good time to get some good deals..ala McCain's Fundamentals are right! He needs to go because he is so out of touch with the reality.

[AmandaBC]

Time for the opposition to get their act together. We should have done that *BEFORE* the elections. Unfortunately, nobody would listen to those of us who advocated that. We're not the US, we don't need 4 years to get rid of this neocon, let's do it NOW!!

[redstarcafe]

Oops! The neo-cons have backtracked on the political funding issue:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/545958

Further retreats in store? Check things out on Sunday.

[messy]

It's too late, the plot's been outed and there's no turning back without the three oppistion leaders looking like total wusses.

[gfs5541]

Actually CanuckDemocrat, I was referring to the Adscam scandal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponsorship_scandall).