Canadian
politicians will hit the campaign trail this holiday season
after opposition parties seized upon a corruption scandal to
bring down the minority government of pro-gay prime
minister Paul Martin in a vote of no confidence.
Monday's loss means an election for all 308
seats in the lower House of Commons, likely to be held
on January 23. Martin and his cabinet will continue to
govern until then.
The Conservative Party teamed up with the New
Democratic and Bloc Quebecois parties to bring down
the government, claiming the ruling Liberal Party had
lost its moral authority. Recent polls have given the
Liberals a slight lead over the Conservatives, with the New
Democrats in third place.
Martin has had frosty relations with the White
House, standing by the Liberal Party decision not to
support the U.S. invasion of Iraq. His push to
legalize same-sex marriage throughout Canada also raised the
hackles of Republicans south of the 49th parallel, but
Martin is widely respected worldwide for Canada's
neutrality and open arms toward immigrants and minorities.
Canada's Conservatives, by contrast, are seen as
much more receptive to improving relations with
Washington, though a majority of Canadians opposed the
war in Iraq and the policies of President Bush.
Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper favors
tax cuts and opposed Martin's successful bill to
legalize same-sex marriage. He would become prime
minister if the Conservatives receive the most seats in
Parliament. "This is not just the end of a tired,
directionless, scandal-plagued government," Harper
said after Monday's vote. "It's the start of a bright
new future for this country." (AP)
