Canada's major opposition party, the Conservative party, has tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling for the government to resign.

The Conservatives tabled the motion Monday night, after House Speaker Peter Milliken ruled it in order. It is expected to be put to a vote sometime Tuesday.

Specifically, the motion asks the Commons public accounts committee to amend a report dating back to Oct. 28, 2004, "to recommend that the government resign because of its failure to address deficiencies in governance of the public service."

According to Opposition sources, should Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberals lose the vote, they could no longer claim the confidence of Parliament and therefore the right to govern.

The ruling Liberal party, however, does not share that view. " There are procedural and constitutional experts that have clearly indicated that procedural motions can not be confidence motions, and this is an example of exactly that," Liberal House Leader Tony Valeri told reporters on Parliament Hill.

Conservative House leader Jay Hill concedes the move is unconventional, but says his party has been left no choice.