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...The Liberals, New Democrats and the Bloc
Québécois signed an
agreement on Monday to form an unprecedented coalition government if
they are successful in ousting the minority Conservative government in
a coming confidence vote....
Dion said the parties reached the accord after watching the
"sad
spectacle" of other countries' governments acting to counter the
"unprecedented" global economic crisis while Harper's Conservatives
"sat and did nothing."
"Given the critical situation facing our fellow citizens and
the
refusal and inability of the Harper government to deal with this
critical situation, the opposition parties have decided that it was now
time to take action," he said.
"We must try to make this Parliament work."
Layton said a proposed economic package, which is part of
the
accord, is "prompt, prudent, competent and, most important, effective."
The NDP leader also called on the prime minister to "accept
this
gracefully" and not bring further instability by fighting the verdict
of his colleagues in the House.
The proposed coalition cabinet will be composed of 24
ministers
and the prime minister. Six of these ministers will be appointed from
within the NDP caucus.
The accord will expire on June 30, 2011, unless it is
renewed. It
includes a "policy accord" to address the "present economic crisis,"
which states that the accord "is built on a foundation of fiscal
responsibility."
....
Parliament is due to vote on a Liberal no-confidence motion
on Dec. 8.
If Harper's government were to lose a confidence vote, Dion would
request that Jean approve the proposed plan to form a coalition
government.
Governor General, who is currently on a state visit in
Europe,
could also decide to send Canadians to the polls for a second time in
less than two months.
The prime minister could also still block coalition efforts
by
proroguing Parliament, that is, suspending it without dissolving it.
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