Liberals and BQ combine to bring down Harper government

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12865339

Canadian government falls after no-confidence vote

2011/03/25 15:56 ET

Stephen Harper said the election would "disappoint" most Canadians

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government has fallen after a no-confidence vote passed in the country's parliament.

The vote, engineered by the opposition Liberal Party and backed by two other opposition parties, triggers an election expected in early May.

The move stemmed from a ruling on Monday that the minority government was in contempt of parliament.

But the Conservatives are thought likely to keep power in a May election.

The House of Commons adjourned on Friday after the no-confidence motion brought by Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff passed on a 156-145 vote.

The vote came after a finding by a parliamentary committee led by the opposition parties that Mr Harper's government had acted in contempt by failing to disclose the full costs of spending on anti-crime programmes, corporate tax cuts and plans to purchase stealth fighter jets.

On Saturday, Mr Harper will ask Governor General David Johnston to dissolve parliament, and following that, an election will be held after a minimum 36 days of campaigning.

Canadian analysts expect it will be called for the first week in May.

Nobody was surprised by the result of the confidence vote, says the BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto.

Having led two minority governments, Mr Harper is hoping this time his party will win a majority at the ballot box, our correspondent says.

The state of the recovering Canadian economy, along with ethics and accountability, are expected to be the main election issues, he adds.

'Historic moment'

After the confidence vote, Mr Harper, 51, said he suspected the forthcoming federal election, the country's fourth in seven years, would "disappoint" most Canadians.

He said he and Conservative MPs would remain focused on nurturing Canada's economic recovery.

"Our priority will remain to ensure stability and security for Canadians, in what remain extremely challenging global circumstances," he said.

Mr Ignatieff, a 63-year old historian, writer and political commentator leading the Liberal Party into an election for the first time, hailed the "historic moment", and called for a focus on healthcare, education and retirement support.

"We want to form an alternative to the Harper government that respects democracy, that respects our institutions, that respects Canadian citizens," he said.

Mr Harper's Conservative Party holds 145 seats in the dissolving parliament, shy of a majority of the 308 seats.

Recent polling suggests the Conservatives will enjoy a lead at the start of campaigning, with the Liberal Party in second, the New Democratic (NDP) Party third and the Bloc Quebecois, which campaigns only in Quebec, fourth.

The Conservative Party is considered likely to emerge from the May election in power with some polls indicating it could even gain seats.

Analysts say Canadian voters have shown little desire for an election, although Mr Harper's minority government had set a record for its tenure.

"The political calculations driving this election have nothing to do with making Canada a better place for Canadians," CTV television political analyst Don Martin said ahead of the vote.

"The opposition parties see a moment of weakness."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12872973

Canada to vote for new government on 2 May

2011/03/26 20:03 ET

Harper has led a minority government

Canada's federal election will be held on 2 May.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement in the capital, Ottawa, after asking Governor-General David Johnston, Queen Elizabeth's II representative in Canada, to dissolve parliament.

Mr Harper's minority Conservative government was toppled in a confidence vote on Friday.

But he warns voters against choosing a "reckless" coalition to replace it.

After the drama of the vote in the Canadian parliament, and a week of rancorous debate, it was time for the formality of launching an election campaign.

After visiting the governor-general's residence in Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told reporters that voters had a choice between his party forming a stable majority government in uncertain times, or a what he called a "reckless" opposition coalition.

"You don't try and form a government if you lost the election," he said.

"If Canadians vote for the other party, even by a minority - you respect that judgement."

But the leader of the main opposition Liberal party, the author and historian Michael Ignatieff, ruled out forming a coalition with either of the two smaller opposition parties.

At present his party is trailing in the polls.

And he said in the aftermath of the Conservatives being found in contempt of parliament, the main issues were still trust and accountability.

As the parties put forward the themes they would like to campaign on, Canadians will have the chance to deliver their verdict on 2 May.

[sly_wolf 199]

Same BS as usual. Politicians in Canada and the US only care about one thing .... themselves, power, money and how to get it for themselves. Screw em all!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Same BS as usual. Lumpen majority of Ppoliticians in Canada and the US only care about one thing .... themselves, power, money and how to get it for themselves. Screw em all!

Fixxored (to avoid assumption that this is restricted to US/Canada--which it isn't as shown by a Wikileaks open-secret passed-off as "revelation" about India's PM Manmohan Singh).

[Obama 2012 1,714]

After seeing some of the vicious things that the liberal party in Canada does, it makes me wonder sometimes if the American left is really so bad.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

After seeing some of the vicious things that the liberal party in Canada does, it makes me wonder sometimes if the American left is really so bad.

My experience is "six vs half-dozen".

[^_^ 5,021]

Shame on them for using a Parliamentary procedure in Parliament.