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Originally posted by Faid1@Jun 24 2005, 04:57 AM
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories
Quote:
The contentious budget amendment bill passed 152 to 147 in the House of Commons Thursday in a late-night, snap vote.
In a move that caught the Conservative opposition off guard, Liberal House Leader Tony Valeri proposed a rarely-used time allocation motion in the House of Commons, cutting off debate on Bill C-48.
The motion passed easily. And as the clock ticked close to midnight ET, MPs voted on the bill's third and final reading.
It was a gamble that could have forced the Liberals out of power and resulted in a summer election if they lost. But the absence of several Conservative troops in the House of Commons Thursday night ensured that didn't happen.
"It bushwhacked the Conservatives. They didn't see this coming," said CTV's Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife.
The Conservatives were left stranded after the Bloc Quebecois joined the Liberals and the NDP to put debate on the budget to bed and move onto a vote on Bill C-38, the same-sex marriage legislation.
"They looked at the numbers. They saw that the Tories had seven MPs missing," said Fife. "They said OK, let's reuse this rare parliamentary closure motion to cut off debate on C-48 and call a vote."
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I don't have a strong opinion either way, but the Liberals just owned the opposition. What a cunning move, holding it this late at night.
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It just shows how far the systems slid down hill when the vote for the budget comes up and MP's don't attend to the vote, there has to be a real crack down on absent MP's during key sessions.
If I was a constituant and my MP didn't show up for a vote like this I would be somewhat p*ssed.
Typical Canada.
Bad voter turnout, bad MP turnout.