Friday, September 18, 2009

‘Jack and Gilles have gone up the hill'

Bill Curry Ottawa The Globe and Mail

The Conservative government survived a confidence test Friday morning – as expected – thanks to the support of MPs from the Bloc Québécois and NDP. The 224-74 vote approves a ways-and-means motion that contains measures tied to the January, 2009, budget. Following today's vote, Michael Ignatieff said it felt good to vote no-confidence in the Conservative government for the first time as Leader of the Opposition. “Personally, it felt like the right thing to do,” he said. The Liberal Leader also said he still intends to move a no-confidence motion when his party has its first opposition day in the first week of October.

Both the Bloc and the NDP originally opposed the budget and the first piece of legislation that was connected to it. However, they say this second piece of budget legislation contains specific measures that they can support, especially the home-renovation tax credit. The NDP has also indicated it is prepared to keep the minority Conservative government afloat until improvements to employment insurance are passed into law. A deal to send Bill C-50, the EI reform legistlation, to committee has yet to be reached.

No comments: