OTTAWA (CP) - The opposition parties introduced an historic motion on Thursday, declaring that the House of Commons has lost confidence in the minority Liberal government.

STATEMENT BY STEPHEN HARPER/ DÉCLARATION DE STEPHEN HARPER - "That this House has lost confidence in the Government" / « Cette Chambre ne fait plus confiance au gouvernement »

Office of the Leader of the Opposition
Cabinet du chef de l’opposition

November 24, 2005

STATEMENT BY STEPHEN HARPER

“That this House has lost confidence in the Government”

OTTAWA – Conservative leader and Leader of the Opposition Stephen Harper today issued the following statement:

“Today in the House of Commons, the Conservative Party of Canada introduced a motion that simply states ‘That this House has lost confidence in the Government.’

It has now become evident this government has lost the confidence of the House of Commons and an overwhelming majority of Canadians, it must be removed. As Judge Gomery concluded, ‘The Liberal Party of Canada (Quebec) cannot escape responsibility for the misconduct of its officers and representatives.’ As long as a guilty party remains in office, nobody will really be held responsible, nobody will really be punished and no real reforms will be made. The Liberal party has no desire to change, no intention to change, and no ability to change. The coming election will give Canadians a choice between old-style politics and sweeping new reforms; between a Liberal culture of entitlement and corruption and a culture of accountability and achievement. While I have complete confidence in the choice the Canadian people will make, I have no more confidence in the choices this government will make if it serves any more time in office.”

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For more information please call Carolyn Stewart-Olsen at (613) 297-9479

24 novembre 2005

DÉCLARATION DE STEPHEN HARPER

« Cette Chambre ne fait plus confiance au gouvernement »

OTTAWA – Le chef du Parti conservateur et chef de l’opposition officielle Stephen Harper a fait la déclaration suivante :

« Aujourd’hui à la Chambre des communes, le Parti conservateur du Canada a présenté une motion disant simplement que cette Chambre ne fait plus confiance au gouvernement.

Il est maintenant clair que ce gouvernement a perdu la confiance de la Chambre des communes et d’une majorité écrasante de Canadiens, et qu’il doit être défait. Comme l’a dit le juge Gomery, le Parti libéral du Canada (section québécoise) est forcément responsable des fautes de ses dirigeants et représentants. Tant qu’un parti coupable restera au pouvoir, personne ne sera véritablement tenu responsable, personne ne sera véritablement puni et aucune véritable réforme ne sera faite. Le Parti libéral n’a ni la volonté, ni l’intention, ni la capacité de changer. Les prochaines élections offriront aux Canadiens un choix entre la politique à l’ancienne mode et des réformes novatrices, entre la culture du « tout m’est dû » et de corruption des Libéraux et une culture d’imputabilité et de compétence. Je fais pleinement confiance au choix que feront les citoyens canadiens, mais je ne fais plus confiance aux choix que fera ce gouvernement s’il reste au pouvoir. »

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A vote on the non-confidence motion is expected Monday, with the collapse of the government all but certain.

If the government falls, the motion will offer a succinct epitaph: "That this House has lost confidence in the government."

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, who tabled the motion, has the support of the other two opposition parties and their combined votes would easily overpower the Liberals.

"The Liberal party has no desire to change, no intention to change, and no ability to change," Harper told the Commons.

"After 17 months in office the record of this government - or I should say in many instances its lack of record - has become unacceptable to a large majority of members of the house representing on overwhelming majority of Canadian voters."

It is widely expected that upon losing the vote, Prime Minister Paul Martin will ask Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean to dissolve Parliament next Tuesday and set an election date for Jan. 16 or 23.

Such a move would mean an exceptionally long campaign of seven or eight weeks, possibly with a brief pause for Christmas and New Year's.

The Liberals lost the support of the Tories and Bloc Quebecois months ago because of the sponsorship scandal, and the New Democrats recently said they had given up on the Grits because of differences over health care.