There is nothing that Mr. Wells likes better than idle election talk and Duff Craig is up to it again.
A Conservative motion demanding the government to resign is in order and can be voted on tomorrow at 5:45 PM. Of course the Liberals don't feel it is a confidence motion (yet).
..."The time has come to defeat the government," said Bloc House Leader Michel Gauthier.
Bloc MP Michel Guimond said the Liberals must admit they've come to the "hour of truth."
"If the government loses the vote the government loses power. Full stop," said Guimond. "And the prime minister would have to go back to the Governor General" to ask that parliament be dissolved and an election be called.
...Earlier Monday, Harper said it's not up to the government to decide whether it has or doesn't have the confidence of the House.
"Only members of Parliament can,'' Harper said from Holland.
"That (Liberal) decision is unacceptable now, and there will be consequences as soon as we return for that kind of attitude."
I would love to see how the Toronto Star would spin this one if the motion passes.
Update: CTV had video from Canada AM of the House Leaders debating whether this motion is one of confidence or not.
Update II: The Tiger in Winter points to a Globe and Mail article which states:
...Two Tory MPs who have cancer are being flown in for the vote, and all 54 Bloc MPs are in Ottawa today. B.C. Independent MP Chuck Cadman, who had chemotherapy treatment yesterday, will not be there to support the Liberals, so the Tories should have the votes to win.
So my earlier math needs to be revised.
Liberals + NDP + MP Parrish + MP Kilgour: 152
Conservative + Bloc Quebecois: 153
Looks like this motion will pass and the Liberals will ignore it. With another vote scheduled for May 18th the Liberals will look more and more desparate as they cling to power. CFRB's Bill Carroll figures these moves will back-fire on the Conservatives and the Liberals will end up winning a majority. At this point things are so fluid that anything could happen.
