Canada's opposition parties said Thursday they will vote against the Conservative government's fiscal update, sparking speculation the country could face another election in the midst of a global economic crisis.
All three opposition parties, the Liberals, New Democratic Party (NDP) and Bloc Quebecois said they would not support the economic statement introduced by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty because it contained no stimulus package to spur Canada's slumping economy and protect Canadian workers during the crisis.
The update is a confidence vote on Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government and could be voted on as early as Monday evening.
Liberal leader Stephane Dion said the parties' decision to reject Flaherty's proposals means it is up to the prime minister "to look at his options."
"We will vote against this plan," Dion told reporters in the parliament.
NDP member Thomas Mulcair also said his party would "do what was done in the past, stand up to the right-wing agenda of Stephen Harper."
Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe told reporters that his party "will categorically oppose" the update.
Should the update be rejected, the constitution allows another election only weeks after Canadian returned the Conservatives to power with another minority government.
The opposition parties could try to form a coalition government or reach agreement to give the Liberals, who came second in the Oct. 14 election, a chance to govern.
The parties have also assailed Flaherty's plan to eliminate the public subsidies all political parties receive, saying the Conservatives were more interested in playing politics than protecting Canada's threatened economy.
The Conservatives will be the least affected by the cut as the percentage of the public funding it received is much less than other parties.
NDP leader Jack Layton said the Conservatives were trying to "attack democracy" and protect their financial advantage over other parties.
Source:Xinhua
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