

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05OTTAWA1461, CANADA: PARALYSIS IN PARLIAMENT -- WHO'S RUNNING
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05OTTAWA1461.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05OTTAWA1461 | 2005-05-13 18:06 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Ottawa |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 OTTAWA 001461
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR WHA/CAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CA NDP
SUBJECT: CANADA: PARALYSIS IN PARLIAMENT -- WHO'S RUNNING
THE SHOW?
REF: OTTAWA 001371 AND PREVIOUS.
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Canada's House of Commons came to a
grinding standstill on May 12, when the opposition
Conservative Party and Bloc Quebecois flexed their muscle by
adjourning the daily session of Parliament, to the surprise
of the ruling Liberal Party. In the wake of a controversial
"confidence" vote on May 10, legislative business in the
parliament has become increasingly paralyzed, as all four
parties (to include the NDP) jockey for tactical advantage in
the run-up to an expected confidence vote that the Liberals
have set for May 19. The outcome of that vote may hinge on
the support of two independent MP's, both of whom have
wavered on their support to either the government or the
opposition, as well as the health of at least four MP's (one
Liberal, two Conservatives, and one independent), and whether
any or all of them will be able to be in Ottawa. Although
not yet a full-blown constitutional crisis, the Governor
General nonetheless has reportedly been seeking the advice of
legal experts. Meanwhile, Canada's legislative agenda has
been stalled, and new initiatives are handicapped, although
day-to-day government services are not threatened. END
SUMMARY.
The Confidence Vote that Did, or Did Not, Occur
--------------------------------------------- --
¶2. (SBU) The latest twist in the ongoing political
maneuverings in Parliament came in the wake of a Conservative
motion that passed on May 10 calling on the Liberals to
resign. The motion passed in a dramatic (if not unexpected)
vote along strict party lines, with the Conservatives and
Bloc using their numerical advantage to defeat the Liberals
(supported by the NDP and two independent MP's). The
Conservatives and Bloc insisted that this vote was one of
non-confidence in the Government, while the Liberals contend
that the vote was simply a procedural matter, with Deputy
Prime Minister Anne McLellan noting that the Liberals didn't
even bother to have their full caucus present for the vote.
(Comment: Although the Conservative Party has provided what
it considers historical precedent to bolster their case that
this was in fact a confidence vote, most experts quoted in
the press have supported the Liberal position that it was not
an actual confidence vote. END COMMENT.)
¶3. (SBU) After the vote, when it was apparent that the
Liberals would not heed the call to resign, the Conservatives
and Bloc departed the Commons chamber en masse, several
stating that Parliament was over, and Harper himself vowing
that "additional steps" would be taken to deal with the
situation. Those steps became apparent the next day (May
11), when the Conservatives tried (and failed) to shut down
Parliament. The Conservatives were more successful
yesterday, shutting down the House at 11:00 AM, and catching
the Liberals, who were meeting in Cabinet, off-guard, forcing
at least one senior member of the party (Justice Minister
Irwin Cotler) to scramble back into the house chamber in
order to introduce legislation before Parliament adjourned
for the day.
¶4. (U) More significant than the half-day parliamentary
session (with some Conservatives having worn blue jeans in
anticipation of an afternoon off), was the negative impact it
had on the ongoing legislative business of the House: of 20
committees that were to be held yesterday, only one of those,
a meeting over the controversial same-sex marriage issue,
went ahead because enough Conservative and Bloc members were
in attendance to provide a quorum. Nine other committees
were canceled or discussions were held informally, while 10
committees took statements from the public with a bare-bones
roster of Liberal and NDP officials listening.
¶5. (U) The Conservatives were unapologetic about the boycott
of the committee meetings, saying the move to halt the
government's operations was a necessary step because the
Liberals have lost the confidence of the House of Commons,
but are refusing to resign and call an election.
Paralysis? What Paralysis?
---------------------------
¶6. (U) Despite yesterday's shutdown, the Liberals insist
that their government is still at work, with Liberal House
Leader Tony Valeri rejecting the notion that there is
paralysis in Parliament, which prompted a round of laughter
from reporters who had just covered the shutdown of the
Commons by the Conservatives. On the opposite side, Bloc
Leader Gilles Duceppe (whose party has voted in lock-step
with the Conservatives on this issue) says that if there is
paralysis in the House, it's the fault of the Liberals.
"We're not paralyzing the government. The government is
paralyzing the Parliament."
The Confidence Vote that Will, or Will Not, Occur
--------------------------------------------- ----
¶7. (SBU) After the dramatics of May 10, Prime Minister
Martin announced on May 11 that a confidence vote on the
budget would be held on May 19, noting in his statement to
the public that a clear confidence vote was required as a
result of recent developments (the "confidence" vote of the
previous day). As reported reftel, the Liberals would far
prefer to face a defeat over the budget (which they could
then use in the ensuing campaign), rather than have to face a
defeat on a straight-up confidence vote.
¶8. (SBU) Despite that announcement, the Conservatives
continue to accuse the Liberals of playing games on the
timing of the vote itself. Among other charges, the
Conservatives allege that the Liberals are seeking to time
the vote so that it coincides with medical treatment required
by a Conservative MP late next week, a charge the Liberals
flatly reject. The Conservatives want the Liberals to move
the vote up earlier next week, to allow Conservative MP
Darrel Stinson the opportunity to vote, since he's scheduled
for cancer treatment on the 19th. The Liberals point out
that provincial elections are occurring in British Columbia
on May 17, and that the Queen is visiting Canada on May 18,
and it would not be appropriate to force a federal election
during either of those two events. For his part, Harper has
said that he doesn't believe the Liberals will carry through
with their promise to allow a confidence vote on May 19.
Crunching the Numbers
---------------------
¶9. (SBU) Whenever a confidence vote does occur, its outcome
will largely hinge on two factors: the attendance of four
MP's (two Conservatives, one Liberal and one independent) who
have been undergoing medical treatments; and the votes of two
independent MP's whose sentiments on this issue have been
fluid from week-to-week (if not day-to-day). (To complicate
matters, one of the sick MP's, Chuck Cadman, is also one of
two undecided independents.) On the medical front, the
attendance of MP's is crucial, since proxy votes are not
allowed; although NDP Leader Jack Layton has suggested that
all sides consider "pairing" votes (in which members from
opposite parties agree not to vote, in order to cancel one
another out), the Conservatives have rejected this idea,
noting that it has been abused in the past. The
Conservative's unwillingness to consider the "pairing" option
(at least at this point) may suggest that both of the
Conservative MP's will be present in Ottawa week. McLellan
has already declared that the Liberals will have their full
caucus in Ottawa when a confidence vote is held (Natural
Resources Minister John Efford missed the May 10 vote, and
has been undergoing treatment for diabetes in St. John's,
Newfoundland).
¶10. (SBU) Whether or not Cadman is able to appear, his vote
is still considered undecided, since he has flipped-flopped
numerous times. More intriguing is the position of
independent MP David Kilgour, who recently left the Liberal
Party. Although it appeared that he might support the
Government, he has publicly criticized the government
yesterday over its Sudan aid package. In a not-so-subtle
message on the need for Prime Minister Martin to
substantially improve the military assistance proposal,
Kilgour said that Prime Minister Martin "has a week to do
it."
The Role of the Governor General?
-------------------
¶11. (SBU) With the deteriorating situation in Parliament,
Governor General Adrienne Clarkson is reportedly closely
following and monitoring the situation, and has been
consulting with leading constitutional advisors. Both Harper
and Duceppe have both called upon the Governor General to
intervene, since the government no longer has the confidence
of the House of Commons. Harper said that the period of
paralysis "could go on until the government of the Governor
General is forced to admit that the government has lost its
mandate to govern the country. I don't know how long that
will be."
Comment
-------
¶12. (SBU) The battleground continues to shift in Parliament,
as all sides struggle to gain tactical advantage. The focus
now is on when and how a confidence vote will be held. The
Conservatives and Bloc won a small victory with their
confidence vote win on May 10, which the Liberals promptly
rejected as "procedural." The Liberals then took advantage
of Harper's insistence on bringing down the Government at
"the earliest possible opportunity" by scheduling a
confidence vote on their terms (on the budget) on May 19.
The Conservatives (in particular) and Bloc would rather not
have to vote down the budget in order to cause the Government
to fall, given the negative ramifications that might have on
the campaign trail, particularly in voter-rich Ontario
province.
¶13. (SBU) Instead, the Conservatives and Bloc would much
prefer to call a non-confidence vote on an opposition day
with a motion that refers directly to allegations of Liberal
Party corruption and the "Adscam" scandal. That might also
make it possible for the NDP to vote with them in bringing
down the Government, since Layton has declared that the NDP
is supporting the Liberal budget, and not the government
itself. All of this puts the Conservatives in the somewhat
awkward position of perhaps having to fight their own desire
to have a confidence vote at the earliest possible
opportunity, in order to have the vote done on their terms
(which the Conservatives have noted in the press that the
could do (given the Conservative-Bloc numerical advantage in
the House)).
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
DICKSON