Canadian government survives confidence vote

[Jack Rabbit]

EDITED for typo in the title

The Canadian Paliametnt is voting on two budget bills today. Failure to pass either bill will bring the government of Prime Minister Paul Martin down.

The first bill, the main budget, passed easily.

The second vote, still in progress will pass with the support of the Speaker.

Link forthcoming.

[enigmatic]

1. I'm watching it right now...

The Liberals have the votes to stay in power; no elections..

[enigmatic]

2. Here's the link:

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/05/19/second-confidence050519.html

[patdem]

3. I am SO Happy!...I got the creeps when I saw the 'No Confidence' vote

forthcomming....and if that happened it would be a big win for the conservatives...I am SO VERY HAPPY...cause if I have to flee...Canada looks good to me!

[enigmatic]

4. I just got approved to stay today..

So this is doubly wonderful for me. I'm more an NDP guy, but anything that destroys Stephen Harper's career is absolutely jake w/ me..

[Spazito]

5. Congratulations!!

That is wonderful news!

[enigmatic]

8. Thanks!

And of course, my wife and I went to Tim Hortons to celebrate!:toast:

[Hand]

6. Congratulations, enigmatic!

From one refugee to another! :toast: :applause:

[enigmatic]

7. Thanks!

This will be a day to remember for me; that's for sure:)

[davidinalameda]

9. will you marry me so I can emigrate

:shrug:

[enigmatic]

10. LOL!

I'm already married! But I've got friends up here, so.....:)

[croat]

13. Congratulations

Congratulations and welcome enigmatic!

Also - congratulations to Belinda Stronach for her guts in helping defeat the Canadian version of the Bushites, congratulations to PM Martin for cobbling together the coalition of the wise against the collection of conservative idiots, and a special congratulations to my beloved NDP and Jack Layton for truly caring about Canadians and for being the only party with true class in Parliament.

[davidinalameda]

26. I'm a very cute gay male

and I can fake being straight if need be!

[arikara]

21. Congratulations!

and welcome to Canada. And I'm with you about Harper too.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Toronto Star: Speaker's vote saves Liberals

From the Toronto Star
Dated Thursday May 19 6:22 pm EDT (3:22 pm PDT)

Speaker's vote saves Liberals
Peter Milliken casts historic vote to break tie in House of Commons
The Star Staff and Canadian Press

B.C.Independent MP Chuck Cadman voted with the Liberal government early this evening, thus creating a tie in a vote in the House of Commons over an amendment to the budget, and Speaker Peter Milliken, a Liberal MP from Kingston, voted in favour.
A spring election is now unlikely.

It was the first time in history that a Speaker had to cast a deciding vote in a confidence motion.

The voting ended tied at 152-152 and Speaker Milliken's vote made it 153-152.

Read more.

[daleo]

12. It will be interesting to see if Harper can cooperate now.

He said if he loses the confidence vote, he will quit obstructing the peoples' business. I don't know if he can mentally climb down from confrontation though - he seems to be doing the full Gingrich lately.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. I just listened to his speech to his party cauaus

He didn't sound very conciliatory there.

[Spazito]

16. He is politically tone deaf...

Pandering to the separatists during his speech will not help his poll numbers in Canada and even in Quebec. Quebecers are very politically astute and can smell a phony like Harper a mile away.

[daleo]

18. Thanks for the update - I didn't listen to the speech.

Listening to Harper is rather hard on the nerves for me. I am not surprised that he wasn't conciliatory. He will do a Newt, I think.

[Maple]

14. Fannnntastic!

:woohoo:

[Q3JR4]

17. Yay!

:woohoo:


Canada as always :yourock:!!!

[Puzzler]

19. Yes... good news for sure!

Harper's a real creep. I can only hope a few more of his MPs bolt from his party in the next few months.

-P

[Lisa]

22. hi Puzzler! Welcome to DU!

If that Globe and Mail article yesterday was correct, about Harper getting nasty after Stronach disagreed with him in a caucus meeting -- I wouldn't be surprised if your prediction comes true. He may have been going off on other people too.

[arikara]

24. Welcome to DU, Puzzler

I hope he loses some more members too. He's getting far too big for his britches. I'm hearting Belinda Stronach right about now.

[UCLA Dem]

20. Don't let the conservatives get a hold of Canada too!!

[whosinpower]

23. If Harper wins a no confidence vote

Then Canada WILL see yet another seperation referendum via Quebec.

And I find it extrememly disingenuous of the conservatives to blame speratism on the liberals. It was Lucien Bouchard - a former CONSERVATIVE under Brian Mulroney's leadership that caused Bouchard to defect and form the BLOC.

We canucks are not THAT short of memory - conservatives should recognize that.

[Jack Rabbit]

25. BBC (late Thursday): Canada PM wins no-confidence vote

From the BBC Online
Dated Thursday May 19 23:52 GMT (4:52 pm PDT)

Canada PM wins no-confidence vote

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has survived a no-confidence motion by a single vote.

His minority Liberal government was saved when independent MP Chuck Cadman made a last-minute decision to back it.

With the ballot tied at 152 votes each, it fell to house Speaker Peter Milliken, a Liberal, to cast the deciding vote in favour of the cabinet.

The opposition had been determined to defeat the government, which has been dogged by a financial scandal.

Read more.

[blue northern]

27. Very Good News

For progressive minded canucks.
Not so good news for the regressive conservatives here in the Great White North.
I hope Harper has a meltdown over this.
:bounce: