GG agrees to suspend Parliament: Harper
Meeting gives Tories reprieve from possible no-confidence vote Monday
Last Updated: Thursday, December 4, 2008 | 12:05 PM ET CBC News
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean has granted a request from Stephen Harper to suspend Parliament, the prime minister announced on Thursday, a move that avoids a confidence vote set for Monday that could have toppled his minority government.
"Following my advice, the governor general has agreed to prorogue Parliament," Harper said outside Rideau Hall after a two-hour meeting with Jean.
"When Parliament resumes Jan. 26, the first order of business will be the presentation of a federal budget."
Harper would not discuss the content of the discussion with Jean, citing constitutional traditions.
But he added in French: "The economy is the priority now and the public is very frustrated with the situation in Parliament. We're all responsible for that."
A no-confidence vote could have precipitated the rise of a Liberal-NDP coalition. If the Governor General had refused the prime minister's request, she could have called an election had the Conservatives lost the no-confidence vote. Or she could have allowed the proposed Liberal-NDP coalition to govern if the no-confidence vote was successful.
But the decision to suspend Parliament only gives the Tories a reprieve until late January, when they plan to table a budget that could set them up for a no-confidence vote.
Harper waved to onlookers after his limousine arrived at Rideau Hall at 9:30 a.m ET Thursday. He was greeted by about 40 chanting supporters, including Conservative staffers. A single anti-Harper demonstrator stood waving a sign reading "Harper Must Go."
Harper has pledged to use "every legal means" to prevent a Liberal-NDP coalition government, backed by the Bloc Québécois, from taking power.
Making his case
Harper's visit comes a day after he took to the airwaves to make his case that his government should remain in power.
In a five-minute, pre-recorded statement Wednesday night, Harper spoke bluntly against a proposed Liberal-NDP coalition backed by "separatists," saying the federal government must stand unequivocally for keeping the country together in the face of the global economic crisis.
Jean returned to Ottawa on Wednesday after cutting short a two-week trip to Europe.
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, who would head the proposed coalition, said he sent a letter to Jean on Wednesday, urging her to reject any attempt by Harper to prorogue Parliament.
Dion responded to Harper's address with his own taped rebuttal in which he defended the notion of a proposed coalition government "as normal and current practice in many parts of the world."
The Conservatives have lost the confidence of the majority of members of the House of Commons — largely because of their, in the opposition's view, inadequate reaction to Canada's financial crunch — and thus, "have lost the right to govern," Dion said.
Economic statement lambasted
The coalition sprang up after the Tories released an economic statement that was lambasted by the opposition parties.
They accused Harper of doing nothing to address the current economic crisis and slammed what they saw as ideologically driven measures such as the proposed elimination of subsidies for political parties, a three-year ban on the right of civil servants to strike and limits on the ability of women to sue for pay equity.
Harper has since backed down on those contentious issues, but the opposition has pushed forward with the coalition.
The coalition — which would have a 24-member cabinet composed of six NDP and 18 Liberal MPs — has vowed to make an economic stimulus package a priority, proposing a multibillion-dollar plan that would include help for the auto and forestry sectors.
With 77 Liberal MPs and 37 New Democrats, plus the support of 49 Bloc members, the three parties have more seats than the 143 held by the Tories.
With files from the Canadian Press
see reply#415 by recceguy.
