OTTAWA, May 11, 2005, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Canada’s Liberal government lost a motion introduced by the Opposition parties calling for the standing government to resign. Liberals are vowing to dismiss the vote while the Conservatives and Bloc MPs promise chaos in the House of Commons.
For a vote that the Liberals said did not mean anything it was all hands on deck as every MP was present with the exception of two Liberal cabinet ministers and one independent who is recovering from chemotherapy. The Conservatives were all present, with two ill MP’s flying out from Western Canada just for the vote.
Prime Minister Paul Martin dismissed the vote saying the real test will come later this month in a vote on the federal budget or in a non-confidence vote.
“This doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be another opportunity,” Martin said, “There will be a budget vote and there will be opposition days before the end of the month.” Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe declared the Commons “paralyzed” hinting that the opposition might send Gov.-Gen. Adrienne Clarkson a letter asking her to dissolve Parliament.
“Mr. Martin has one more time shown himself unworthy of the post he occupies,” Duceppe said, “If Paul Martin had the slightest sense of honour, the slightest ounce of courage he would have risen and said, ‘I accept.’ He’s clinging desperately to a title he pursued for years, to the detriment of his ex-leader (Jean Chretien).”
The vote was close at 153-150.
As to whether the government must resign or not one expert said the government could stay in power but it would make for an unseemly spectacle.
“It’s not a clear vote of confidence, but it’s getting pretty close,” said Ned Franks, professor emeritus at Queen’s University. “There would be a daily demonstration of a paralysed Parliament (if the Liberals lost the vote).”