MacKay says gov't defeat could come next week

[Said1]

Harper is having his own "confidence" problems, I think MacKay is going to replace him sooner than later.

Anyway, back to the impending elections - I guess we'll know next week.

MacKay says gov't defeat could come next week

The jockeying on Parliament Hill took a new turn, with Conservative Deputy Leader Peter MacKay saying his party could try to bring down the minority Liberals as soon as next week.

He said Thursday his party was considering all the options carefully, and that anything is possible in the coming days and weeks, including a non-confidence motion next week that would topple the government.

The statement was surprising, however, coming as it did on the heels of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's comments Wednesday, when he indicated he was planning to bring down the Liberals on Nov. 28, thus kicking-off a holiday election campaign.

Under the new scenario, the Conservatives would have to make their move on Monday or Tuesday of next week, on days when the Liberals are expected to try to pass tax cuts that stem from their recent mini-budget.

It's the newest twist in a political chess game that has seen all parties posturing in the media on an almost daily basis, to gain footing and prepare for an expected election.

Liberal House Leader Tony Valeri has said his party wouldn't avoid a Conservative non-confidence vote by shortening parliament.

New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton moved his long-promised motion in the Commons Thursday, calling on the Liberals to set a Feb. 13 election or face defeat by the opposition.

Layton's move was seen by many as merely a formality, because Martin already rejected the idea when it was earlier proposed by the opposition leaders.

Layton said he went through with the motion in order to get it on the books. He told parliament it was a reasonable option because it would bring all parties together in a spirit of compromise to achieve a few key objectives.

"Nothing is going to happen after the holidays except an expensive, taxpayer funded, Liberal pre-election campaign," he said. "So let's just formalize when the election will begin. It will be underway anyway at taxpayer's expense. Let's have it be conducted under the rules of elections Canada with a formal initiation of the elections process in January."

Martin has said only a straightforward non-confidence motion would succeed in bringing down his government.

Harper spent Thursday doing a campaign-style visit to North Bay, Ontario, where he addressed supporters and said an election will come "relatively soon."

He focused on integrity as the cornerstone in his party's campaign plan, and described the upcoming election as an opportunity for Canadians to choose between "old-style politics and sweeping new reforms."

The prime minister, meanwhile, was attending the first day of the Asia-Pacific conference in South Korea. Martin told reporters he will once again raise the issue of softwood lumber, and Arctic oil drilling, with U.S. President George W. Bush during the conference. And will focus on avian flu and climate change in his discussions with other world leaders.

He made it clear when speaking to reporters, however, the economy will be at the centre of his party's campaign in the coming election.

"Economic issues are going to play very strongly in the election campaign," Martin said.

Meanwhile, Liberal Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale dismissed newspaper headlines Thursday that claimed 70 per cent of Canadians feel his recent fiscal update was no more than a thinly veiled "attempt to buy votes."

The update is being referred to as a "mini-budget," because it sets out the Liberal economic plan, if reelected.

Goodale brushed off the headlines and said they didn't concern him at all. He said the report has garnered "overwhelmingly positive" praise from economic experts, student groups, and chambers of commerce. The poll results don't paint an accurate picture, he said.

"I think it all depends on how that particular newspaper asked that particular question," he told CTV's Question Period.

The plan was created in consultation with many groups across the country, and since it was released, Goodale said he has followed up with key stakeholders and found that people are satisfied.

Students especially, he said, are satisfied with the plan, which promises new grants and lower interest costs stemming from $2.7 billion in new funding over the next five years.

"They say it's long overdue and they're excited about what it means for increasing the brainpower of Canadian students," Goodale said.

Goodale also spoke about trade issues for farmers and softwood lumber workers, and promised the government will stand by both groups when help is needed.

"I said very clearly that when our farmers and our softwood workers are disadvantaged, this government will be there to stand there with them," he said.

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