...it's now only a matter of time.
Posted on 05/11/2005 11:59:45 AM PDT by wk4bush2004
OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin announced his minority government will face a confidence vote May 19 - but opposition leaders demanded one immediately.
Martin's announcement that he will bring a budget bill to a vote next week brought scorn from Stephen Harper and Gilles Duceppe. The Tory and Bloc Quebecois leaders will refuse all co-operation with the Liberal government, which could paralyze Parliament until the budget vote.
Harper went one step further, accusing the Liberals of a callous ruse. Two Tory MPs are battling cancer and had to be flown in from Western Canada for a vote this week.
"I'm tired of the game," Harper said.
"We're not going to play another week so that (Martin) can hope the health of some members of Parliament deteriorates."
It was a sign of the circus-like atmosphere in Parliament, which promised to deteriorate further in Wednesday's question period. The opposition parties were planning to focus their questions exclusively on the government's alleged illegitimacy.
Harper's allegation about cancer patients outraged Liberal House leader Tony Valeri.
"I don't wish illness on anyone, especially members of Parliament who are suffering from cancer and going through treatment," Valeri said. "That's about as low as you can get."
The seat count in the House is virtually deadlocked and literally every single vote counts.
Independent MP Chuck Cadman is also battling cancer. He is making travel plans to be in Ottawa next week - but isn't saying which way he will vote.
The Tories and Bloc Quebecois have co-operated in efforts to bring down the Martin government in past weeks.
Martin and the Liberals ignored a procedural motion passed Tuesday in the Commons that called on the Liberals to resign. The motion was not considered a confidence vote.
Martin insisted Wednesday that he's respecting parliamentary tradition, and he called on Harper and Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe to do the same "by ensuring this House is able to function between now and the day of the vote."
Should the government be defeated May 19, the earliest date for an election would be June 27.
Duceppe said Wednesday his party won't wait for May 19.
"I'm telling him he would have the co-operation of the Bloc Quebecois if he would have the vote today. Otherwise no collaboration - but no collaboration at all."
NDP Leader Jack Layton, who made a deal with Martin on the budget in return for NDP support, said he's willing to wait until May 19.
"Our goal has been to get a budget adopted that really addresses people's needs," Layton said, "and we see that as the most important work going on in the House right now and we'll do everything we can to try to bring that to fruition as soon as possible.
"The budget should be accepted because it's good for Canadians on an expedited basis. We're satisfied so far that that is happening."
Go Conservative Party!
I dunno... theyre half alliance (separatists) and teaming up with the Bloc (separatists)...
Need another bunch to vote for. Too bad the only other party is the NDP. But Im pretty sure they wont try to split the whole country up if they get into power.
Drop a MOAB on the next parliament session and start from scratch...these guys are all crooks...
Please let me know if you want on or off the Canada/Adscam ping list
The NDP is the socialist party.
If they ever won Federal power, separation would be the least of our worries.
Thanks for the ping.
This will be one of the most important elections in Canadian history. If the Liberals are returned to power--even with a minority government--political accountability is dead.
Watch CPAC.... the gov. may be going down in 20 mins!
I don't have access to CPAC. If you don't mind, tell what happens.
Copy and paste
http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&template_id=22〈=e
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
One of the methods of protest suggested today was dying our fingers blue (we want to vote). I whole heartedly support this idea, but the recipe was unsweetened grape kool-aid mixed with a bit of water.
How ironic is that?
In order for Canadians to reclaim our country, we need to dip our fingers in kool-aid.
LOL.
As long as we don't drink it.
ROFLOL
I find it hard to go with anybody who will willingly toss everything east of Ontario away for a chance at federal power. If the Conservatives win on their own, good stuff... but dont make deals with the Bloc.
I want to vote for all of Canada... not part of it.
The Quebecers arent going anywhere. A truly independent quebec is not viable. Their bluff will be called, sooner or later
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