The coming federal budget is emerging as the Harper government’s last hope to stave off an election as the opposition forges ahead with plans to find the Conservatives in contempt of Parliament.
The Liberal Party, the NDP and the Bloc Québécois showed no signs of appeasement after hearing the testimony of embattled minister Bev Oda on Friday and obtaining financial data earlier in the week on the cost of law-and-order bills.
However, it will be at least a week before any motion of contempt can be lodged against the minister, during which time Tuesday’s budget will jump back to the forefront of Canadian politics.
While the Harper government is promising to focus on restraint and offer little in new funding or programs, the budget could contain surprises that would make it palatable to at least one of the three opposition parties. The government needs the support of one of the parties to avoid a no-confidence vote, which would prompt an election.
In addition, two opposition parties will have an opportunity to amend the budget, one of which could obtain the support of the Conservatives.
The NDP has started running ads suggesting that its priority is making Parliament work, but it has carefully avoided stating whether it prefers collaborating with the government or the two other opposition parties.
