Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff could announce as early as Monday morning whether Canadians can expect to head back to the polls, or if his party will support the Conservative government’s economic report.
Ignatieff has scheduled an announcement at 11 a.m. ET after taking the weekend to weigh his options.
Ignatieff’s call will determine whether the last week of the spring parliamentary session comes to a close Friday with a bang or a whimper.
All eyes are on Ignatieff, however, because both the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP have already opposed the government’s progress report on the economy, which was released Thursday. All three parties would have to unite behind a motion declaring non-confidence in the government to bring it down and force a summer election.
Ignatieff told reporters after the report was released that he wanted a few days to analyze the 234-page document, which says, among other things, that most of the funds set aside to stimulate the economy have started flowing, or are at least tied to specific commitments.
Late last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper weighed in on the issue, telling reporters that Canadians don’t want an election during a recession.
The Liberals have enjoyed an uptick in recent public opinion polls, prompting some hawks in the party to push for an election to take advantage of the minority government’s problems over the economy, the ballooning government deficit and the medical isotope crisis.
Even though an election cannot be ruled out, few observers are predicting with any confidence that Canadians will be going to the polls this summer.
Ignatieff has scheduled an announcement at 11 a.m. ET after taking the weekend to weigh his options.
Ignatieff’s call will determine whether the last week of the spring parliamentary session comes to a close Friday with a bang or a whimper.
All eyes are on Ignatieff, however, because both the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP have already opposed the government’s progress report on the economy, which was released Thursday. All three parties would have to unite behind a motion declaring non-confidence in the government to bring it down and force a summer election.
Ignatieff told reporters after the report was released that he wanted a few days to analyze the 234-page document, which says, among other things, that most of the funds set aside to stimulate the economy have started flowing, or are at least tied to specific commitments.
Late last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper weighed in on the issue, telling reporters that Canadians don’t want an election during a recession.
The Liberals have enjoyed an uptick in recent public opinion polls, prompting some hawks in the party to push for an election to take advantage of the minority government’s problems over the economy, the ballooning government deficit and the medical isotope crisis.
Even though an election cannot be ruled out, few observers are predicting with any confidence that Canadians will be going to the polls this summer.
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