Government to Fall to Historic Defeat Today

This afternoon, the Conservative minority is expected to become the first government defeated on a contempt-of-Parliament motion.

Say goodbye to the 40th session of Parliament. At about 1:30 p.m. Friday, MPs will vote on a Liberal motion that declares the Conservatives have been found in contempt of Parliament for not disclosing the cost of key legislation and that the House has lost confidence in the government. All three opposition parties are expected to vote in favour of the motion, which will force the prime minister to ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament, a task he’ll likely undertake sometime Saturday. The Governor General will then drop an election writ, triggering a campaign expected to culminate with a vote on Monday, May 2. Party leaders will begin criss-crossing the country as early as Saturday afternoon.