Harper government falls — Canadians going to polls

ANDREW MAYEDA
Postmedia News

The Harper government has been defeated in the House of Commons on a non-confidence motion supported by the opposition, setting the stage for a federal election in early May.

The Liberal motion declared that the government is in contempt of Parliament and has lost the confidence of the Commons. The motion passed by a vote of 156 to 145.

The campaign for Canada’s 41st election is expected to officially begin Saturday morning, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to visit Rideau Hall to ask Gov. Gen. David Johnston to dissolve Parliament. Canadians will be going to the polls for the fourth time in roughly seven years.

Earlier Friday, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff declared that the Harper government had broken the rules of Canada’s democratic system and that it had to be brought down.

“This is a historic day in the life of the democracy you have served so well,” Ignatieff told Commons Speaker Peter Milliken.

“I have to inform the House that the Official Opposition has lost confidence in the government.”

A parliamentary committee recently recommended the government be found in contempt for failing to provide enough information about the costs of its crime legislation. Milliken ruled earlier this month that, “on its face,” the government appeared to have breached the parliamentary privilege of MPs by refusing to release the information.

The Liberal motion stated that the Commons agreed with the committee’s finding that the government was in contempt.

The Conservatives hold 143 of the 308 seats in the Commons. The Liberals hold 77, the Bloc Quebecois 47, and the NDP 36. There are two independent MPs. There are three vacant seats.

In Nunavut, incumbent MP Leona Aglukkaq has said she’ll run again, while the Green Party has named Paul Azzarello as their candidate. The Liberals and NDP have yet to nominate candidates.

“It is time to change Canada’s direction. Time to get us on the right path,” Ignatieff said in a speech on the motion. “After five years of Conservative government, it is time to say ‘Enough is enough. Enough of the politics of fear. Enough of the politics of division. Enough of the politics of personal destruction.'”

Government house leader John Baird responded by accusing the opposition of putting their lust for power above the interests of Canadians.

“I’m saddened that a Parliament which has accomplished a lot recently will come to an end because of the reckless actions of the Liberal, Bloc Quebecois and NDP coalition in forcing an unwanted and unnecessary election on Canadians,” Baird said.

He noted the opposition’s hold a majority on the committee that recommended the government be found in contempt of Parliament. No government has been found in contempt of Parliament in Canadian history.

Party leaders will fan out across the country on Saturday to begin a campaign expected to end May 2.

The Conservatives plan to focus on the economy, arguing a change of power would undermine the still-fragile recovery at a time when it faces threats such as Middle East turmoil, fallout from the tsunami in Japan and ongoing debt troubles in Europe.

The opposition parties will put the spotlight on what they describe as the Conservatives’ lack of ethics and accountability. The opposition will point to a string of recent controversies around the Tories, including charges that Conservative officials breached Canada’s election law, and allegations that a former adviser to the prime minister was lobbying for deals that would have benefited his fiancee, a former escort.

A new poll suggests the Conservatives hold a commanding lead in public support heading into the campaign. The Conservatives command 43 per cent support among decided voters, putting them well within reach of a majority, according to an Ipsos Reid commissioned by Postmedia News and Global National. The Liberals registered 24 per cent support, the NDP are at 16 per cent, the Bloc at 10 per cent, and the Green Party at six per cent.

With files from Mike De Souza, Althia Raj and Tobi Cohen