PM Martin non-confidence vote

[Morgeruat]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/elxn_...cene&printer=1

OTTAWA (CP) - The count - 153 for, 150 against - was barely out of the Speaker's lips when a lone voice bellowed from the Opposition benches: "Goodbye!" But moments later it was Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and many of his MPs who rose in a huff and marched from the House of Commons, leaving Prime Minister Paul Martin and his defeated Liberal colleagues guffawing in their seats. For those scoring at home, let the record show the combined Conservative and Bloc Quebecois MPs successfully brought a vote of non-confidence against Martin's fragile government 10 months and 12 days into its minority mandate. There were, however, no blizzards of paper from MPs tossing their notes in the air, as happened when Canada's last minority government unexpectedly fell in 1979. There were relatively few catcalls in a Commons that's become synonymous with bad behaviour of late. "Since I understand the prime minister, in his desire to cling to power at all costs . . . ," Harper began saying in the Commons after the vote, before a chorus of jeers from the Liberal side drowned him out. Government House leader Tony Valeri immediately repudiated the Conservative motion's validity. "I'd just like to respond and make sure that any Canadian that is actually watching the proceeding clearly understands that the leader of the official Opposition has no knowledge of what in fact the motion actually says," he began. By the time Valeri announced his party would "continue to govern on behalf of all Canadians," he was speaking to Harper's departing backside. At least half the Conservative benches were empty when Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe got his chance to denounce the government perfidy - although every Liberal MP remained seated until the Speaker had formally sent the contentious non-confidence motion back to a House committee, where it is destined to die. Slapping backs and cackling, the Liberals then rose as one and began filing out, fit to fight another day. "This doesn't mean there isn't going to be another opportunity for the Conservatives and the Bloc to essentially express their confidence in the government," the prime minister told reporters outside the Commons. "There will be budget vote and there will be opposition days before the end of the month." Dress rehearsal over, the various leaders retired backstage to plot the next act in this parliamentary drama.

[Timber Loftis]

Sorry for not understanding, but what is the significance of this? What happens now?

[pritchke]

We change the name of the country to Bananada.

Ideally with a non-confidence vote the current PM should step down and call an election. But this is Bananada were talking about so the current PM is more likely to cease elections all togeter. I am joking of course at least the part about the PM ceasing all elections and becoming a dictator.


[ 05-13-2005, 01:34 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Djinn Raffo]

HRM Queen Elizabeth arrives on Tuesday. Here's hoping she dissolves parliament!