UPDATED 9:16PM - Click the title above to link to the video feed of Prime Minister Harper's address from CTV.ca or HERE
UPDATED 12:57AM - or just watch the YouTube video right now.
For the full text of the speech including Dion's response click here
Harper focused his attack on the coalition by referring to "backroom deals" struck with separatists, an obvious reference to the Bloc and leader Gilles Duceppe. He did not mention that he will meet with the Governor General tomorrow at 9:30 am, nor did he say he would seek to suspend parliament. He spoke only of ongoing meetings and deliberations in advance of a full budget he wants to release in January, 2009 [Can we afford to wait?]
In a little less than two hours, Prime Minister Stephen Harper will address Canadians on a television broadcast to be carried by the major TV networks.
It is the minority Conservative Party leader's latest attempt to stave off the impending non-confidence vote and the proposed Liberal - NDP - Bloc Coalition Accord to defeat the minority government and assume majority control of Canada's parliament. It is expected that Mr. Harper may announce that parliament will be "prorogued" or temporarily suspended until January, a date he has mentioned as when the Conservative Finance Minister would be ready to submit a more complete budget to the Canadian people.
As one who is calling the Coalition an undemocratic bid to take control of the government, Prime Minister Harper should take a page from his own book. What could be more detrimental to the democratic process of government in Canada than suspending the house? While parliamentary rules allow parliament to be prorogued after a minimum of one sitting, this would be a most blatant attempt at minority control of the will of the people of Canada.
Prime Minister Harper and his minority Conservative Party have never won a majority in Canada, having garnered only 37 percent of the popular vote. The Coalition represents 62 percent of Canadians and holds 163 seats in parliament versus 143 seats for the Conservatives. Stay tuned to the Canayjun's Canada News Blog here for real time feeds of Harpers address.
The following links and previous post here on the blog will give you a good background.
Canada's PM to address nation in crisis
Text of the Coalition AccordI'm part of the 62 percent majority
Coalition for Change - the 62 Percent Majority Petition
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