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http://www.canada.com/topics/news/natio ... id=1021160OTTAWA - To save his job and his government, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected within Conservative circles to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament this week while his party blitzes the country with a public-relations campaign aimed at discrediting the notion of a Liberal-led coalition government.
The Conservative party began airing radio ads Tuesday while ministers and other Tory spokesmen were appearing on as many all-news television channels and talk radio programs as they could to push their party's message that they will not, in the words of one of Harper's senior advisers, "allow a new radical government without the people's consent."
The all-out bare-knuckles politicking followed the unveiling Monday of a historic accord between the Liberals and the NDP to unseat Harper's minority government and replace it with a coalition supported by the Bloc Quebecois. The new coalition government would be led by Stephane Dion until May 2, his previously announced resignation date, after which time the new leader of the Liberal party would take over as prime minister. Jack Layton and five of his NDP MPs would get seats in the 24-person coalition cabinet.
The prime minister may even take to the airwaves himself this week with a nationally televised address.
For Harper, it is the fight of his political career. Many in his caucus are already grumbling that he is responsible for goading the opposition with unnecessary and incendiary initiatives in last week's economic and fiscal statement. In that document, the government proposed eliminating taxpayer subsidies for political parties and rolling back wages for public-sector unions while taking away their right to strike. Both those measures were hastily withdrawn over the weekend, but not before they had galvanized the opposition to begin the talks that would eventually lead to the coalition accord.
"I think any prime minister in that kind of situation wouldn't feel happy and won't feel comfortable," said Revenue Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn. "This is not what the population of Canada has decided when they voted two months ago."
On Monday, as he entered the House of Commons, Conservative MPs - with two notable exceptions - gave Harper a standing ovation. Those two exceptions were Environment Minister Jim Prentice and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, two men who could challenge for the party leadership should it come to that.
The Conservative party also launched a new website at canadiansfordemocracy.ca and were trying organize various anti-coalition rallies across the country. Conservative activists are also being encouraged to call Liberal and NDP MPs to convince them to reconsider.
Meanwhile, Gov. Gen Michaelle Jean, who will play a key role in breaking the parliamentary logjam, cut short a state visit to Europe and will return to Canada on Wednesday.
Only the Governor General can prorogue Parliament and normally does so on the advice of the prime minister. Constitutional experts agree, however, that Jean has the legal right to refuse a request from the prime minister to prorogue although few expect her to do so.
Indeed, many Liberal and NDP MPs said Tuesday they fully expect Harper to prorogue.
"They're desperate so they're going to try pretty much everything," said Pablo Rodriguez, a Liberal MP from Montreal. "I wouldn't be surprised if Harper tried every trick in the book, but at the end of the day he's going to have to understand he's lost the confidence of the Commons."
If Harper does seek a prorogation and if the Governor General refuses his request, the government would face its first and likely last confidence vote in the House of Commons on Monday. Although Jean could choose to call a new general election should the government lose a confidence motion, constitutional experts and many Conservatives themselves believe that, given how little time has elapsed since the Oct. 14 general election, she would simply invite Dion to form a government and become the country's 23rd prime minister.
Jean said in a TV interview in Prague that she has received the letter Dion sent Monday on behalf of the coalition that has formed to replace the Conservatives.
"I received his letter, and the message in the letter is clear," Jean said. "I think that my presence is required in the country, so I will be leaving tomorrow."
Asked what she would do if Harper asks for a prorogation - or suspension - of the current session of Parliament, Jean replied that her door is open when she returns.
"Before I can answer this question, I have to see what the prime minister has to say to me, and what he is actually thinking of doing. I don't know exactly anything about his intentions yet."
Dion's letter to the Governor General requests that if Harper asks her to dissolve Parliament, triggering an election, she instead exercise her authority to call on the Liberal leader "to form a new collaborative government" with the NDP and the Bloc. The rationale is that Canadians just had an election Oct. 14.
"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," Dion said Monday at the accord signing, flanked by NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe.
Harper did not speak to reporters Monday but at a Christmas party for Conservative staffers at an Ottawa hotel, he told supporters the country's very unity was at stake.
"We will use all legal means to resist this undemocratic seizure of power," Harper said.
Harper has also urged the opposition parties to at least wait for his government's budget, which will be tabled on Jan. 27.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty accused the opposition parties of having no confidence in the Canadian economy. "They would rather make a deal with the devil," Flaherty said.
"This is a coalition that's supported by separatists, people who would break up our country," said Environment Minister Jim Prentice. "This is a serious situation. It is irresponsible and it is undemocratic."
Duceppe said his party is ready to support the coalition because the Conservatives chose partisan games based on ideological beliefs instead of considering the interests of Quebecers and Canadians.
"Since last Friday, the Conservatives have retreated on some points, but nothing could restore the trust that was broken by Stephen Harper," Duceppe said.
"In front of the urgency to act on the economic crisis, we started negotiations with the other opposition parties. Each one showed openness and a willingness to make compromises, which allowed us to reach an agreement."
© Canwest News Service 2008
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