Tory amendment could see government fall

[whirlygigspin]

Last Updated Wed, 06 Oct 2004 15:00:12 EDT

OTTAWA - Debate on the speech from the throne begins Wednesday in the House of Commons, a process that could lead to the downfall of the Liberal minority government.

PROCEDURE

The address in reply to the throne speech, introduced on Wednesday, is usually the first real business of the parliamentary session.

The government first moves a motion to thank the Governor General for the speech.

Following that, opposition parties introduce amendments to that motion that are critical of the government and its policies, which Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is expected to do on Wednesday afternoon.

A government with a majority would ordinarily vote down the opposition amendments, proving the House of Commons has "confidence" in the government.

With a minority government, however, the opposition amendments have a chance of passing.

If they gain the support of the one independent MP, British Columbia's Chuck Cadman, the Tories (with 99 seats) and BQ (with 54 seats) could defeat a voting bloc composed of 135 Liberal MPs and 19 NDP MPs.

A government is defeated on a confidence motion ¡V such as amendments to the throne speech ¡V could fall as a result, leading to the Governor General calling a new federal election.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. There is no chance of the Konservatives/Harper coming....

to power is there?

:scared:

Will the BQ vote with the Liberals to block the Conservatives.

[daleo]

6. Just grandstanding for now, I am pretty sure

Any party that was seen pushing the country into an unnecessary election would get clobbered by the electorate in the ensuing election. Everyone will play nice for a year or so, if they know what's good for them.

[Wat_Tyler]

2. Not bloody likely.

No-one wants an election right now.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

4. What would happen if an election occured?

Why would no one want an election right now?

[Maple]

7. We just had one in June

and this would be seen as a political game, slowing the country down right after Parliament opened and things are up and running again.

Harper hasn't even had his party convention yet to determine policy...that's next March...and they certainly can't run again on their old policies. People have been voting against them for years.

[Minstrel Boy]

8. The parties aren't ready and

the public would not be amused. They want their politicians to make a go of a minority parliament, at least for a while. (Certainly no less than a year.) Bringing down the government within days of the House sitting would mean suicide for the Conservatives, and whomever backed them up. (Because they would need either the BQ or the NDP to support them to bring down the government.)

[Maple]

3. They won't vote out the government

This is traditional hype.

And even if they did, the voters would punish the Conservatives heavily for it. Suicide mission.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. If that so then I ask the Conservatives to be my guest and do so!

:)

[whirlygigspin]

9. stranger things have happened

ask William Lyon Mckenzie King

[MrPrax]

10. Hardly suicidal...

The Harper's Tories wouldn't lose a seat if the Gov't collapsed...neither would the BQ

If anything, the Liberals promised a 'fresh new change/start/whatever' and they are assuming the same old positions...they looked bad at the First Minister's Health Conference and their Throne Speech is rehashed Cretin...

I hope the gov't does get knocked down and we'll see Ontario bail them out again...

(The NDP are toast, of course, which is too bad to see them go out with a whimper)