Canada To Avoid Immediate Election

TORONTO — One of Canada's opposition parties said Tuesday it will prop up Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government in a no-confidence vote this week, averting an immediate election.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said his party will vote for the government's key budget bill Friday because there is nothing inherently wrong with it.

The news that Canada won't have an immediate election comes as Harper prepares to visit President Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday.

The development means Harper's Conservative government will survive at least until the first week of October, when the main opposition Liberals plan to introduce their own no-confidence motion.

The opposition New Democrats are also expected to support Harper on Friday in order to push through government legislation on unemployment benefits, which they suggested this week they would support.

Government failure to pass a budget motion Friday could have forced a fourth election in just over five years and the second in a year, if the Bloc Quebecois, New Democratic and Liberal parties had then voted to bring down the government.

Harper's Conservative Party was re-elected last fall with a strengthened minority government, but still must rely on the opposition to pass legislation and to stay in power.

The three opposition parties hold the majority of the seats in Parliament with 162, while the Conservatives have 143. There is also one independent MP.

A vote on a budget matter is an automatic confidence vote and can trigger an election if it is defeated. The opposition can also introduce specific no-confidence votes.

Comments

[Octoberluna]

I need to stress that people should really learn about Michael Ignatieff. He has a lot to offer this country and we might be wise to give him a listen. Or...he's every nasty thing that Harper wants us to believe...

[Octoberluna]

While I appreciate not having to go to the polls yet again this year, I can't wait to be rid of Harper and the Republi...er Conservatives.

[Academic]

Simple reason: its neo-con leader knows that like the hated Gordon Brown in the UK he'll lose so he's holding on to the gravy train like Brown for as long as he can. But his demise will come, whenever he calls the election.

Professor Dr. Stanley Collymore.

[Khirad]

Well, as long as the NDP get on board with a no-confidence after they get what they want here, unless they're offered something else then. It's complicated to me as a simple American when you talk about playing against more than the ruling right party, as well as the other opposition parties from moderate to left. I just try to stay abreast of elections... sigh.

[uneeda]

some irony here....harpo being saved by the party that obliterated the conservatives in quebec in the last election and who harpo accused of plotting a minority with the "socialists" and liberals to unseat him .

[BeenieMon]

Harper is a blo od thirsty Bushbot lapdog and a lying sack of SHHHHHHHHT that you wouldn't leave alone with your children for 30 seconds without completely freeeeeaking out.

[stanschurman]

The Prime Minister's Conservative Party is still running ads on TV accusing the Liberals of plotting to form a coalition with the separatist Bloc Quebecois Party while all the while accepting support from The Bloc. When the Liberals do it, they haven't BTW, it's called a coalition. When the Conservatives do it, it's called helping the government to keep working for Canadians. I have nothing against different parties agreeing to work together, that's the parliamentary system. Spare us the hypocracy of saying one party is getting in bed with the separatists while your own party is courting support from the very same separatists.

[BlackRabbit]

What do you mean by the Conservatives "accepting support from the separatists"? Are you suggesting that the Conservatives and BQ have a deal?

[PrickliestPear]

It's actually a very different situation. The Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition would have formed a new government, with a new prime minister.

Which is not to defend Harper. I would love to see a Liberal/NDP coalition, or better yet, a merger.

[sociocanuck]

Moving closer to a two-party system is not the answer.

The true ideologies of the Liberals and NDP are too different to be compatible (under anything except a coalition as necessary); and have been since the Liberals purged their progressive wing at the earliest possible opportunity.

[sociocanuck]

There's something in there that reeks of hypocrisy, even with the minor differences involved in the rationale behind siding with the minority parties.

It's time for Harpo to go, though. He can't possibly be banking on continued support from the Bloc and NDP, as they'll inevitably side with the Liberals on some matter of conscience for their constituents, and then out he goes.

I'd rather see more NDP seats go along with a Liberal victory, though. Simply switching one right-wing ideologue for another slightly better disguised one won't do without a stronger balance.