Canada's minority Conservative government is again on the verge of collapse as the opposition parties threaten to topple it over a confidence motion scheduled on Friday.
The biggest opposition the Liberal Party said Monday it will only support the government if it agrees to satisfy certain conditions. Both other opposition parties, the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Quebecois, have said they would vote against the government.
The Liberals demanded that the government reform the employment insurance (EI) policy and improve transparency on stimulus spending and the growing deficit.
The political scuffle came after Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered an economic update on the implementation of the government's stimulus package last Thursday. Harper said about 80 percent of stimulus spending was being implemented and 3,000 new infrastructure projects have begun, but the oppositions doubted the report and were also not happy about the government's handling of the EI policy, the deficit and other issues.
Back in January, the Liberals had requested the Conservative government to provide an economic update on its budget every three months in return for support. These reports are confidence matters, meaning the government could be toppled at any time if the oppositions find them not satisfactory.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff told a press conference in Ottawa Monday that he does not want an election, but feels he must hold the government accountable.
"We've asked some questions that require an answer, and they're easy to answer," Ignatieff said. "If he (Harper) wants to make Parliament work, it's very easy to him to answer positively. But he must understand that I am prepared to vote against them," Ignatieff said, after spending the weekend pondering over Harper's report.
All three oppositions would have to unite to topple the Conservative government, which was only elected last October. If that comes true, Canadians would have to brace for a summer election, the fourth election in five years in the country.