Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Canada report

Nonconfidence vote tries lack direction

By JIM FOX
Published May 8, 2005

Canada's politicians can't agree on what constitutes a nonconfidence motion aimed at defeating the scandal-tarnished Liberal minority government.

Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberals say a Conservative motion to bring down the government within two weeks is invalid.

Even though the Conservative effort to hold a confidence vote by May 18 was approved by the House of Commons, the Liberals brushed it aside and constitutional experts say precedents offer little direction.

The motion asked the Commons Finance Committee "to recommend that the government resign."

If the government is outvoted on a confidence motion or a major bill, such as approving the budget, a federal election would be held.

There's a virtual deadlock in Parliament with a Liberal-New Democratic Party alliance struggling to fight off defeat by the election-ready Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois.

The opposition parties want to take advantage of polls in their favor as the inquiry into Liberal misspending has further implicated the government.

New testimony links Martin with plans to guarantee business for a Liberal-friendly ad agency in the previous government. Martin said the remarks by Chuck Guite, who headed the sponsorship program and faces fraud charges, aren't true.

U.S. peace activist Ron Kovic praised Canada for its "proud and courageous history" of providing refuge to American war resisters.

A Vietnam War veteran who became a leader of the antiwar movement in the 1960s, Kovic condemned the Iraqi war as "illegal and immoral policy."

At a rally of 100 antiwar supporters in Toronto, he praised Canadians who have helped war dodgers and noted there's a new generation of protesters arriving.

Kovic is a former Marine Corps sergeant who returned from duty paralyzed from the chest down.

Canada has already displayed the power it has to save lives and crippling injuries by taking a strong stand against war, he said.

A military investigation has concluded a fatal submarine fire in October was the result of a "combination of human, technical and operational factors." Vice-Admiral Bruce MacLean cleared the captain and crew of HMCS Chicoutimi of any blame in the death of Lt. Chris Saunders. A wave sent seawater through an open hatch, where it soaked high-voltage wires, causing the fire. The sub, acquired from the British navy, was en route to Canada after being refurbished in Scotland.

The Bank of Canada isn't planning to follow the United States' lead in raising interest rates. While Canada's jobless rate fell to 6.8 percent last month, the economy is still struggling to cope with a strong dollar. Analysts say that makes it tough for the central bank to figure out when to raise rates and further prop up the dollar while hurting exports.

The Canadian dollar has advanced to 80.53 U.S. cents, while the U.S. dollar is $1.2417 Canadian, before bank exchange fees.

The Bank of Canada's key interest rate is steady at 2.5 percent, while the prime lending rate remains at 4.25 percent.

Stock markets are higher, with Toronto's composite index at 9,522 points and the Canadian Venture Exchange at 1,695 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 12, 19, 23, 24, 29, 44; bonus 28. (April 30) 10, 11, 18, 21, 32, 42; bonus 19.

There were multiple explosions at an Edmonton, Alberta, company that handles hazardous waste. Huge plumes of black smoke billowed from Custom Environmental Services, and nearby businesses were evacuated. There were no injuries. The cause was believed to be employees mixing chemicals. The company provides recycling and disposal of hazardous waste materials, including PCBs and oil-field waste.

Should Quebec become independent, the mainly French-speaking province would have billions of dollars in extra cash, a Parti Quebecois study said. Leader Bernard Landry said the extra cash would come from Quebec taking over federal taxing powers and reducing duplication in government services.

There was no clear plan of action to combat illegal fishing in international waters after a four-day meeting in Halifax of bureaucrats, scientists and conservationists from around the world. Delegates agreed there is a crisis facing global fish stocks but failed to reach a consensus on what to do about it.

Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

[Last modified May 8, 2005, 00:46:16]