COALITION GOVERNMENT?

MPs vote down Bloc budget amendment

January, 29, 2009 - 06:56 pm THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA - The Harper government's budget has survived its first test.

The House of Commons voted Thursday to reject a Bloc Quebecois sub-amendment.

Only the Bloc and the NDP supported the proposed change.

The amendment would have forced the Conservative government to eliminate promised tax breaks and abandon plans for a national securities regulator.

It would also have enhanced Employment Insurance, provided direct assistance to manufacturers and forestry, and left untouched the existing pay equity and equalization formulas.

Attention now turns to the Liberal amendment to the budget, which is expected to pass Monday with the support of the Conservatives.

The Liberals are not calling for any substantive changes to the budget.

Their amendment would strictly require the government to table three progress reports - in late March, June and December - detailing the implementation and effectiveness of budget measures.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has said the amendment is the equivalent of putting the Harper government "on probation."

Conservatives have said they'll support the amendment, while the Bloc and NDP are opposed.

"Canadians don't want another election, and they're tired of political games," the new Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff, told a news conference. He said the government's deficit-laden budget, released on Tuesday, responded to the needs of the present.

"What (Canadians) want from me is political action that shows a sense of responsibility and I'm trying to do that," Ignatieff said.

He said he would present an amendment to the main budget motion on Wednesday afternoon requiring the government to report back on its budget implementation in March, June and December.

The Conservatives supported the [Liberals'] motion, which calls for regular reports to Parliament on the budget's implementation and costs.

The Liberal amendment to the federal budget passed in the House of Commons on Monday, 214-84. The Conservatives supported the motion, which calls for regular reports to Parliament on the budget's implementation and costs. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff had said his party would only support the Conservative budget if the amendment was approved.

OTTAWA - The federal budget is poised to win approval in principle Tuesday despite mounting anxiety among Liberals about propping up Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government.

A Liberal amendment to the budget sailed through the House of Commons on Monday night, supported by the Tories.

The amendment - requiring the government to submit periodic progress reports on the budget - was passed by a vote of 214 to 84, with the NDP and Bloc Quebecois voting against it.

Okay, you're on. I think the budget won't pass, the coalition will be asked to form the next govt, so the only thing we agree on is that there will be no election.

Eat crow? Is that it? Pffft! Come on!

Whoever loses has to start a thread about how WRONG they were Admit defeat in whatever way they chose but acknowledge how RIGHT the winner was - heh heh heh

Ha ha ha - I was so WRONG, WRONG, WRONG and you were so right! I'll start a thread when I get home, if you like, but just now I'm off to work. Right after I eat some crow and humble pie.