Canadian opposition unites in bid to topple government

Canada’s opposition parties signed an unprecedented agreement to topple the Conservative government in a no-confidence vote next week and form a coalition government less than two months after national elections.

A loss by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government in the December 8 vote could set the stage for another parliamentary election less than two months after the last ballot, or more likely give the opposition a chance to form a government.

No Canadian federal government has ever been ousted in favour of an opposition coalition.

The Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois contend Mr Harper has not come up with a solid plan for dealing with the global economic crisis.

But the move against Mr Harper was also triggered by his since-dropped proposal to scrap public subsidies for political parties, something the opposition parties rely on much more than the Conservatives.

The Liberal Party said its leader, Stephane Dion, would be prime minister under the coalition deal.

“We are ready to form a new government that will address the best interests of the people,” Mr Dion said after the three opposition leaders signed a pact outlining the structure of a new government.

Mr Dion said the Bloc has promised to back the coalition until June 30, 2010, meaning the new government will likely rule at least until then.

New Democrat leader Jack Layton said Mr Harper’s government has lost the confidence of Parliament and will be defeated.

“I urge you to accept this gracefully,” Mr Layton said in remarks directed at Mr Harper.

Mr Harper’s party won the most seats in the October 14 election and handed the once dominant Liberals one of their worst defeats ever after Mr Dion campaigned on an unpopular environmental tax during slowing economic times.

But the Conservatives’ hold on power is tenuous because the party again did not win a majority of Parliament’s 308 seats and must rely on opposition support to pass budgets and legislation.

The Liberals, the biggest party in the opposition alliance, are in the midst of a leadership race after Mr Dion said he would step down in May following his election loss. But all three leadership candidates said Monday that they would support Mr Dion as leader of a coalition government.

Mr Dion said that he still planned to step down next May if he becomes prime minister and his successor in the Liberal leadership will become government leader.

If Mr Harper loses the confidence vote as expected, Governor General Michaelle Jean would have to decide whether to call another election or ask the opposition to form a government.

Constitutional experts say that Ms Jean, who is the representative of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and whose position is mostly ceremonial, would likely allow the opposition to form a coalition government since an election was held less than two months ago.