Conservatives’ Motion Could Topple Canadian Government

The Globe and Mail has the story regarding the Canadian House of Commons debate on a motion by the Conservative Party which calls on the Public Accounts committee “to recommend that the government resign because of its failure to address the deficiencies in governance of the public service.”

Ottawa — The House of Commons erupted in a fiery debate over an opposition effort to topple the Liberal government as early as Tuesday.

The Conservatives tabled a motion Monday that calls for the government to resign. The Speaker of the House ruled it was in order despite Liberal arguments to the contrary.

Still, it’s unlikely the government will consider the vote a matter of confidence.

The Liberals had already dismissed a similar motion as a procedural matter and said they would continue governing even if they lost that vote, which is to come May 18.

But the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois insist that Tuesday’s votes will have dire political consequences.

“The Liberals must admit that the hour of truth is upon us,” said Bloc MP Michel Guimond.

“If the government loses the vote the government loses power. Full stop.

“And the Prime Minister would have to go back to the Governor-General,” to ask that an election be called.

The motion was debated in the Commons on Monday and the opposition says it will come to a vote Tuesday.

Stay Tuned!

Prime Minister Paul Martin walks past opposition leaders Jack Layton, Gilles Duceppe and Stephen Harper at a Second World War remembrance ceremony in Amersfoort, Netherlands, Monday.