The Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democrats signed an agreement Monday with the aim of forming a coalition government. They have a written pledge from the Bloc Québécois to stand by the accord for 18 months.
Liberal leader, Stéphane Dion, said the parties reached the accord after watching the "sad spectacle" of Harper's conservatives doing nothing while other countries acted to confront the economic crisis.
Dion said: "Given the critical situation facing our fellow citizens and the refusal and inability of the Harper government to deal with this critical situation, the opposition parties have decided that it was now time to take action."
NDP leader Jack Layton called on Harper to accept the verdict of his colleagues in the House.
Layton said: "Prime minister, your government has lost the confidence of the House and it is going to be defeated at the earliest opportunity."
Harper, one of the biggest political game players around, reacted by accusing Dion of "playing the biggest political game in Canadian history."
He described the move as ... an attempt to govern under threat of veto by "socialists and separatists."
Harper has failed to win a majority each time he has asked Canadians for a mandate. His minority status though hasn't changed his high handed tactics. Harper can say what he wants about the parties opposing him, but acting together they will be more representative of Canadians as a whole than he could ever hope to be - even with a different hairdo.
Dion said: "Given the critical situation facing our fellow citizens and the refusal and inability of the Harper government to deal with this critical situation, the opposition parties have decided that it was now time to take action."
NDP leader Jack Layton called on Harper to accept the verdict of his colleagues in the House.
Layton said: "Prime minister, your government has lost the confidence of the House and it is going to be defeated at the earliest opportunity."
Harper, one of the biggest political game players around, reacted by accusing Dion of "playing the biggest political game in Canadian history."
He described the move as ... an attempt to govern under threat of veto by "socialists and separatists."
Harper has failed to win a majority each time he has asked Canadians for a mandate. His minority status though hasn't changed his high handed tactics. Harper can say what he wants about the parties opposing him, but acting together they will be more representative of Canadians as a whole than he could ever hope to be - even with a different hairdo.
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