Reply #: Canadian government defeated

[deminks]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051129/ts_nm/politics_can_dc

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's shaky minority Liberal government lost a vote of confidence on Monday, ending a 17-month stay in office that was largely overshadowed by a patronage scandal.

Prime Minister Paul Martin was set to visit Governor General Michaelle Jean -- the representative of head of state Queen Elizabeth -- on Tuesday to ask her to dissolve Parliament and set an election date.

A well-placed source told Reuters that Martin would call an election for January 23, setting the scene for the country's first winter campaign in more than 25 years.

Opposition legislators, who voted by 171-133 to bring down the government, cheered loudly when the results were declared.