OTTAWA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper on Thursday won approval from the governor general to suspend
Parliament until the end of January, in an attempt to avoid being defeated by
oppositions in a non-confidence vote scheduled next week.
The three opposition parties had agreed to topple the
government next week and replace it with a Liberal-NDP coalition supported by
the Bloc Quebecois. They declared that the government has lost the confidence of
the House of Commons.
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen
Harper pauses while speaking as sleet falls at Rideau Hall in Ottawa December
4, 2008 following his meeting with Governor General Michaelle Jean.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Analysts say the latest development may only give the
newly-elected Conservatives a reprieve until Jan. 26, when they plan to table a
budget, which would still be a confidence vote.
Emerging from a two-and-a-half hour meeting with
Jean, Harper told the media that Governor General Michaelle Jean had followed
his advice to temporarily suspend the parliament until Jan. 25.
"Following my advice, the governor general has agreed
to prorogue Parliament," Harper told reporters from the front steps of the
governor general's residence.
He said the decision reflects the will of Canadians.
"Last Friday I asked Canadians to give us their
opinion on the parliamentary situation. That feedback has been overwhelming and
very clear. They want Canada's government to continue to work on the agenda they
voted for -- our plan to strengthen the economy."
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper pauses before speaking at Rideau Hall in Ottawa December 4, 2008 after meeting with Governor General Michaelle Jean. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Harper also said that when Parliament resumes, the
first item on the agenda will be the presentation of the federal budget. He
opened the door to co-operating with the opposition parties on the budget,
saying Canadians expect all parties "to get on with it."
"It's the opportunity to work in the next six weeks
on these measures, and I invite all the opposition parties, especially those
that have a responsibility to the whole of Canada, to work with us, to inform us
of their detailed position and we will be there to listen," Harper said in
French.
The opposition parties reacted to Jean's decision
immediately. Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe called Harper's actions
anti-democratic and "unbecoming of a prime minister" and criticized the
suspension of the current Parliament session as being aimed simply at saving
"Harper's own skin."
NDP leader Jack Layton suggested his party will try
to topple the government at the first opportunity by voting against the speech
from the throne even before the Conservatives table the budget.
He also accused Harper of attacking democracy by
using a "parliamentary trick to put the locks on the door" so Parliament members
cannot express themselves.
The current political crisis was sparked last
Thursday when Finance Minister Jim Flaherty presented a fiscal update that
included cuts to funding for political parties, limited civil servants' right to
strike and failed to offer a stimulus package to spur economic growth. The three
opposition parties denounced the plan immediately and negotiated the alliance.
Harper's minority government was elected in the Oct.
14 election, garnering 143 seats out of the 308 of the House of Commons. The
three oppositions command a majority of seats in the House and can defeat the
government in a confidence vote.
OTTAWA, Dec. 4
(Xinhua) -- Leader of Canada's Liberal Party Stephane Dion said Thursday the
opposition coalition is still committed to bringing down the minority
Conservative government, after the Parliament was suspended.
He said nothing has changed right now, even though the
governor-general has agreed to suspend Parliament until January. Full story
OTTAWA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday vowed to take "every legal means" to fight against an opposition plan to replace his Conservative government.
The Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party (NDP), with
the support of Bloc Quebecois, have signed an agreement to oust Harperin a
non-confidence vote next Monday and replace him with a coalition government. Full story
OTTAWA, Dec. 3
(Xinhua) -- Leaders of Canada's three opposition parties Wednesday challenged
Prime Minister Stephen Harper by a non-confidence vote scheduled for next
Monday.
Following a national address by Harper, each of the
leaders of the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc
Quebecois made a separate speech appealing to Canadians to support their
proposed coalition government. Full story
OTTAWA,
Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is giving a national
televised address Wednesday night to solicit support from Canadians, as he faces
being brought down by oppositions.
Harper is giving the address at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (2400
GMT) on national channels, to convince Canadians he is still the best choice to
lead the country, Canadian media reported Wednesday. Full story
