Stephen Harper, leader of Canada's main opposition the Conservative Party, said on Tuesday he would not introduce a no-confidence motion to bring down the government because he had no faith in New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton's support for the move.

"Our experience suggests if we should again attempt to bring down the government, Mr. Layton would no doubt see our attempt as potential leverage in his negotiations with the Liberals as he has done on other occasions," Harper told reporters on Tuesday following a speech to a business crowd in Toronto.

On Monday, Layton withdrew his party's support for the Liberal government as he rejected a Liberal health-care proposal, a move which throws door open for a possible winter election. The leftist New Democrats have been the only group keeping the minority Liberal government in power.

The earliest date the Conservatives could introduce such a motion is Nov. 15, a designated opposition day in Parliament. Harper would need the backing of the New Democrats, as well as the Bloc Quebecois, to bring down the government.

Harper said despite Layton's pledge, the NDP leader remains non- committal by saying that he is still open to negotiations with the government.

"I don't think we can ever be sure we will have Mr. Layton's votes unless he is in on the motion itself. And to this point he's indicated no willingness to do that."

Layton had been considering a Liberal offer on controlling private health care in return for the NDP votes in any upcoming confidence vote. Prime Minister Paul Martin made it clear on Tuesday he would not negotiate with the NDP on his proposed health- care package to ensure the survival of his minority government.

Since the release of a sponsorship scandal investigation report last week, none of the three opposition parties have declared themselves willing to table a non-confidence motion on one of the six available opposition days between November 15 and late December.

This is likely because no party wants to bear the individual blame for triggering a holiday-season election campaign, analysts say.

The most likely date for a test of confidence in the Liberals now appears to be December 8, when the government's supplementary estimates come up for a vote in the House of Commons, which could mean a mid-January election, analysts said.

Martin has promised an election call within 30 days of the second judicial report on the scandal being tabled. That report is expected in early February.

Source: Xinhua