The Liberals and New Democrats signed an agreement on Monday to form an unprecedented coalition government, with a written pledge of support from the Bloc Québécois, if they are successful in ousting the minority Conservative government in a coming confidence vote.
The accord between parties led by Stéphane Dion, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe came just hours after Liberal caucus members agreed unanimously that Dion would stay on to lead the Liberal-NDP coalition, with support in the House of Commons from Bloc MPs.
The six-point accord includes a description of the role of the Liberal and NDP caucuses, which would meet separately and sit next to each other on the government benches in the House of Commons, Dion told a news conference alongside Layton and Duceppe.
Dion said he has advised Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean in a letter that he has the confidence of the Commons to form the government should Stephen Harper’s Conservatives be defeated in a confidence vote.
The Liberal leader said the parties reached the accord after watching the “sad spectacle” of other countries’ governments acting to counter the “unprecedented” global economic crisis while Harper’s Conservatives “sat and did nothing.”
“Given the critical situation facing our fellow citizens and the refusal and inability of the Harper government to deal with this critical situation, the opposition parties have decided that it was now time to take action,” he said.
“We are ready to form a new government that will address the best interests of the people instead of plunging Canadians into another election.”
Dion, who previously announced he would step down as Liberal leader, also pledged he would hand over “a strong government for a stronger Canada” to his Liberal successor on May 2.
“I am honoured to do that,” Dion said.
Layton said the accord’s proposed multibillion-dollar stimulus package for the troubled economy, which includes support for the auto and forestry sectors, is “prompt, prudent, competent and, most important, effective.”
“This Parliament has failed to act, and it falls on us to act,” Layton said.
The NDP leader also called on the prime minister to “accept this gracefully” and not bring further instability by fighting the verdict of his colleagues in the House.
“Prime minister, your government has lost the confidence of the House and it is going to be defeated at the earliest opportunity,” he said.
Following the opposition news conference, Harper dispatched Environment Minister Jim Prentice to address the “serious” situation.
Prentice called the opposition pact “irresponsible and undemocratic” and said the government will consider all options.
He wouldn’t rule out the government’s asking Jean to suspend Parliament until late in January, when the Tories have promised to introduce a new budget.
The proposed coalition cabinet will comprise 24 ministers and the prime minister. Six of these ministers will be appointed from within the NDP caucus. The position of finance minister would be held by a Liberal, while the NDP would be allotted six parliamentary secretaries.
The accord between the NDP and Liberals will expire on June 30, 2011, unless it is renewed. The Bloc is only committed to 18 months.
It includes a “policy accord” to address the “present economic crisis,” which states that the accord “is built on a foundation of fiscal responsibility.”
An economic stimulus package will be the new government’s top priority, while other policies include a commitment to improve child benefits and childcare “as finances permit.”
There is also a commitment to “pursue a North American cap-and-trade market” to limit carbon emissions.
