Canada’s Governor General has approved Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s request to suspend parliament. Mr. Harper met with Michaëlle Jean this morning following his address to the nation last night to stave off effort by a coalition of the Liberals and New Democratic Party to take control of parliament.
Ms. Jean has agreed to the request to shut down parliament until the end of January when Mr. Harper’s ruling Conservative government is set to present a budget.
The two opposition parties, backed by the Bloc Quebecois, signed an agreement last Sunday to form a coalition government and defeat Harper in a confidence vote originally scheduled for December 8.
The move was made after the Conservatives released its annual economic and fiscal update on November 27 in which they attempted to cut public financing for political parties. The cut would have particularly impacted the opposition parties.
The opposition parties also criticized the report’s lack of measures to stimulate the Canadian economy amidst the global recession.
Liberal Leader and Leader of the Official Opposition Stéphane Dion, New Democrat Leader Jack Layton, and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe each sent a petition to Ms. Jean today informing her that the House of Commons has lost confidence in Mr. Harper’s government.
The three opposition parties, comprising 161 Members of Parliament, form the majority of the House.
“Your petitioners respectfully inform you that they would vote in favour of the non-confidence motion introduced by the Official Opposition if this motion were to be called to a vote as scheduled on Monday, December 8th, 2008,” Mr. Dion wrote in his letter to Ms. Jean accompanying the petitions.
Canadians For Democracy, a group opposed to the coalition government, has announced that it will hold a rally on Parliament Hill on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a pro-coalition rally is being held today on the Hill.
