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Canada report

Election in January? That's goal

By JIM FOX
Published November 13, 2005

Canada's opposition politicians have a plan to topple the minority Liberal government and force a federal election in January.

This would avoid the possibility of an election around Christmastime and force the vote ahead of Prime Minister Paul Martin's planned timing for spring.

Martin bristled at a suggestion he should agree to the plan by the three opposition parties.

"If what the opposition is saying is that they would like the government to just stop governing . . . the answer is absolutely "no,' " Martin said.

The prime minister agreed to set a date for an election within 30 days of Judge John Gomery's final report on the sponsorship scandal, expected on Feb. 1.

The other parties say that is too long to wait, and that by that time the electorate will have forgotten about the scandal in which the Liberals misappropriated hundreds of millions of dollars to benefit their supporters.

The Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois have rallied behind New Democratic Party plans to pass a motion Nov. 24 that would ask the minority Liberals to step down in January.

Minority governments fall if they lose a vote on a major bill. The New Democrats, for now, have kept the Liberals in power with their support in a deal to spend additional money on social programs and health care.

The Conservatives are threatening to block Finance Minister Ralph Goodale's fiscal statement, to be delivered Monday.

"If this turns out to be just a big election platform, we want the ability to stop them from presenting it to the finance committee," said Monte Solberg, Conservative finance critic.

The document, originally designed to update the government's fiscal and economic forecast, appears to be nothing more than sheer electioneering, he said.

It's widely expected that Goodale will pledge business and middle-class income tax cuts in the statement.

The mother of slain soldier Sgt. Marc Leger was comforted by Governor General Michaelle Jean as a new book of remembrance was dedicated Friday on Parliament Hill during Remembrance Day ceremonies. Claire Leger wept as the book containing her son's name and those of 1,300 others who have died in military service was unveiled. Her son was one of four Canadians killed in a friendly-fire incident by U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2002.

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler wants to impose mandatory sentences for gun crimes because of a rise in violence, particularly in Toronto. Legislation planned by the Liberal government will result in jail time for gun-toting criminals. It would send a message to judges, prosecutors and criminals, Cotler said.

Any proposal by Quebec to reshape its health care system would have to comply with the Canada Health Act, the federal government said. There are reports the Quebec government will release a discussion paper that would propose a parallel, private health system.

Canada's dollar is lower at 84.02 U.S. cents while the American greenback is worth $1.1902 Canadian, before bank exchange fees.

The Bank of Canada's key interest rate remains at 3 percent while the prime lending rate is 4.75 percent.

Canadian stock markets advanced, with the Toronto Stock Exchange composite index at 10,594 points and the Canadian Venture Exchange at 2,010 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 7, 30, 36, 39, 42 and 49; bonus 9. (Nov. 5) 4, 30, 39, 42, 45 and 46; bonus 38.

Edmonton's new police chief is Mike Boyd, a veteran officer and former deputy chief in Toronto. Boyd, whose family roots are in the Alberta city, applauded the police service's reputation for being in the forefront of law enforcement strategies such as community policing, partnering with private security and working with social agencies.

Emera, the parent company of Nova Scotia Power, is giving $250,000 to a fund that helps ease home heating costs for low-income people in the Atlantic province. The money will go into an annual program managed by the Salvation Army. The Good Neighbor Energy Fund will provide financial aid to about 1,000 Nova Scotians over the winter.

The violent storm that tore part of the roof off a school gym in Hamilton, Ontario, was a rare November tornado, Environment Canada said. Two students were slightly injured at Lawfield Middle School.

Thousands of British Columbian teachers have applied for hardship grants from the Canadian Teachers' Federation after a 10-day strike last month. Teachers who can demonstrate genuine financial hardship as a result of wages and strike pay lost during the strike are eligible for a maximum of $500 from the union.

Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

[Last modified November 13, 2005, 03:00:43]