Prime Minister Stephen Harper is buying time to avert a dramatic political showdown that could oust the Tories from office.
As the Opposition Liberals and NDP feverishly met behind closed doors to discuss ways to form a "viable" coalition yesterday, the Grits served notice of a non-confidence motion that could have toppled the Conservatives Monday. But Harper postponed the crisis by pushing the vote back a week, holding a press conference last night to lash out at his rivals for staging a "backroom deal" just weeks after the federal election.
Harper accused Liberal Leader Stephane Dion of trying to seize office after leading his party to its slimmest popular support since Confederation.
"They want to take power, not earn it," Harper said, noting the Liberals and NDP are drawing support from the Bloc Quebecois, a party that "wants to destroy the country."
The high-stakes wrangling comes after an economic update from Finance Minister Jim Flaherty that drew the ire of Opposition parties for failing to offer new stimulus measures to buoy Canada's slumping economy. Opposition MPs are also crying foul over a surprise bid to eliminate public subsidies to political parties -- a move that could cripple their operations and election campaigns.
But as former prime minister Jean Chretien and ex-NDP Leader Ed Broadbent met to help broker a coalition deal, Liberals and NDP MPs stood firm and united against the Tory fiscal package they declared "unacceptable."
"This is not about politics, it's about people and until Stephen Harper presents a proposal to Parliament that helps people during these tough economic times, we won't support him," said Liberal MP Scott Brison.
Earlier, Harper's chief spokesman Kory Teneycke said the Conservatives would not waver on any of the measures, and insisted the politically contentious plans have broad public support. He also accused the Opposition parties of engaging in "crass" political opportunism.
Harper suggested the move to form a coalition is undemocratic and made a direct pitch to Canadians to voice their views to local MPs.
"The opposition has every right to defeat the government, but Stephane Dion does not have the right to take power without an election," he said.
"Canada's government should be decided by Canadians, not backroom deals."
The timing puts the Liberals in a tough spot, as three MPs are currently vying for the leadership of the party. But MP Martha Hall-Findlay said the contest should have no bearing on a potential coalition government.
"Right now is a time for all members of the Liberal party and the NDP and the Bloc to accept that ... whatever we have is a lot better than a government in which we simply have no confidence," she said.
The Conservative government will face a confidence vote Dec. 8.
