OTTAWA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Canada's three opposition
parties signed an agreement on Monday to form an unprecedented coalition
government as they moved to oust the minority Conservative government in a
coming confidence vote.
The accord between the Liberals, New Democratic Party
and the Bloc Quebecois came after Liberal members agreed that outgoing leader
Stephane Dion would stay on to become the interim prime minister of the
Liberal-NDP coalition government, with support from the Bloc Quebecois.
A non-confidence vote over the Conservative
government's economic policy is scheduled to be held in the parliament next
Monday. If the vote happens, Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government
will collapse. The oppositions will then ask the governor general to allow them
to form a coalition government.
The current political storm erupted last week after
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveiled his economic update, a blueprint that
disappointed the oppositions by containing no stimulus package and outlining
plans to slash public funding for political parties.
The oppositions immediately denounced the update,
saying they have lost confidence in the government for having not taken
effective measures to deal with the economy.
Under the opposition accord, the proposed coalition
cabinet will be composed of 24 ministers and the prime minister. Six of these
ministers will be appointed from within the NDP caucus.
The accord will expire on June 30, 2011, unless
renewed. It says an economic stimulus package will be the new government's top
priority. It also commits to "pursuing a North American cap-and-trade market" to
limit carbon emissions.
Liberal leader Stephane Dion said he would advise
Governor General Michaelle Jean later in the day in a letter that he has the
confidence of the Commons to form the government should the Conservatives be
defeated in a confidence vote.
But analysts say Prime Minister Stephen Harper may
announce proroguing the parliament to give himself more time to fight off the
oppositions. Or if the government falls, the governor general may choose to hold
a snap election.
OTTAWA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Leader of Canada's biggest
opposition group Liberal Party Stephane Dion will become interim Prime Minister
if the current Conservative government is brought down, party officials said
Monday.
The Liberals and the New Democratic Party (NDP) have
finalized on the details of a coalition government to replace Stephen Harper's
government, which they are planning to bring down next week. The Bloc Quebecois
will support the coalition from out in the parliament. Full story
OTTAWA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Canada's opposition parties are
finalizing their plans on a coalition government as they prepare to bring down
the newly-elected ruling Conservatives, after a political crisis sparked by the
government's policy on the economy.
The biggest opposition party, the Liberal Party, and
the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP), have agreed on a detailed plan to form
the government, supported by the Bloc Quebecois, the third biggest party in the
Parliament, officials and media reports said Monday. Full story
