Geopolitical Monitor - News

TORONTO November 28, 2008 (AP) - Opposition parties said Friday they may seek to topple Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government and form a ruling coalition because it isn't doing enough to rescue Canada from the impact of the global economic crisis.

The opposition Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois are discussing the option despite a national election last month that the Conservatives won.

In response, Harper delayed all votes that could topple his government until Dec. 8 and accused Liberal leader Stephane Dion of trying to get power without an election.

"They want to take power, not earn it," Harper said in a televised address Friday from the foyer of the House of Commons.

Opposition members in parliament said they cannot support the government's updated fiscal plan, introduced by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on Thursday, because it offers no stimulus package to deal with the global meltdown. Economists have also criticized the plan.

The Liberals said they are considering introducing a motion declaring no confidence in the minority Conservative government and proposing a governing coalition. Former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien and former New Democrat leader Ed Broadbent are involved in the talks

The party said it is also considering three other motions that would not bring down the government but would ask for changes in the fiscal plan. No decision has been made yet.

Liberal lawmaker John McCallum sought to reassure markets of the potential change in government, suggesting the opposition would not allow a left-leading New Democrat to become finance minister.

"I understand that the global economy, the Canadian economy is fragile, so I want the business community, the financial community to know that should we form the government, that the stability of our financial system and of our economy will be uppermost in our mind every step of the way," McCallum said.

Harper's Conservative party won enough votes in the Oct. 14 election to stay in power, but the party has a tenuous hold on it because it did not win the majority of parliament's 308 seats.

The Conservatives must rely on opposition support to pass budgets and legislation.

Harper appealed to Canadians to let him stay in power, arguing that they gave the Conservatives a strengthened mandate less than two months ago to lead the country through one of the most serious economic crises in generations.

He defended his response to the economic crisis, saying he had acted to keep taxes low and that in the next couple of months his party introduce a budget that will includes a stimulus package.

He said the opposition's only concern is taking over the government.

"The opposition has every right to defeat the government, but Stephane Dion does not the right to take power without an election," Harper said. "It should be your choice, not theirs."

Earlier, Flaherty said that the economy will be in recession in the last quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year. But he declined to immediately announce a stimulus package.

"I would hope the economy would be strong and we won't need to have any additional stimulus into the Canadian economy," Flaherty told the Economic Club of Toronto. "But if it's necessary to do so, we will do so."

If the opposition parties vote against the fiscal plan on Dec. 8 it could topple the government. A vote on a money matter is an automatic confidence vote in a minority Parliament.

The opposition has also objected to Harper's plans to scrap public subsidies for political parties. The opposition relies on the subsidies far more than Harper's Conservatives, who have raised twice as much in donations as the three opposition parties combined.

If Harper's government fell, Harper would then go to Governor General Michaelle Jean and tell her he has lost the confidence of Parliament. Jean would either call another election or ask the opposition to form a government.

Jean is the representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who is Canada's head of state, but the governor's general's job is usually a ceremonial post.