CBC News reports that, “Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff reached a deal on Tuesday to examine employment insurance reform, averting the possibility of a summer election…”
This means the Liberals will not vote against the Conservative government this Friday.
“Under the pact, Harper agreed to give the Liberals an opposition day motion within eight days of the start of the fall session of Parliament (on Monday September 21, according to the House of Commons calendar) — a key opportunity to trigger an election.”
“The political rivals agreed to create a working group on employment insurance that will have three members selected by the Liberals and three by the Conservatives.”
“A report recommending any changes will be returned to the Prime Minister’s Office and is expected by September 28. It would then be presented to the House of Commons for examination.”
As such, election speculation now shifts to the possibilty of a non-confidence vote on Wednesday September 30 (according to the Globe and Mail) and an election day on Monday November 9.
The full article is at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/06/17/harper-ignatieff-talks017.html.
The CBC also reports this morning on a new EKOS poll which has the Liberals at 33.7%, the Conservatives at 32.4%, the NDP at 16.3%, the Greens at 9%, and the Bloc Quebecois at 8.4%.
That report is at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/06/17/ekos-poll-political-preference061709.html.