OTTAWA – Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper was due to address the nation last night as part of a high-stakes political and constitutional battle over whether the opposition should be allowed to replace his government.
Mr Harper, whose Conservatives were re-elected with a minority government on October 14th, has been arguing that a plan by the three opposition parties to bring down his government and install an alternative coalition would usurp democracy.
Cabinet ministers say one leading option Mr Harper is considering is asking for a temporary suspension of parliament, at least until his government can present a budget with new measures to stimulate the economy in late January.
To do that, however, he would have to win permission from governor general Michaëlle Jean, who was arriving back in Ottawa yesterday from a foreign trip.
The main opposition Liberal Party, separatist Bloc Québécois and left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) signed an agreement on Monday to try to bring the Conservatives down at the first opportunity and replace them with a Liberal-NDP government supported by the Bloc.
While both sides in the political crisis were crafting constitutional arguments as to what Ms Jean should do if asked, the two sides were also actively trying to appeal to public opinion.
The Conservatives say the opposition attempt to take over would amount to a coup, but the opposition says Mr Harper has lost their confidence and must face parliament. – (Reuters)