20090203/加拿大议会批准政府新财年预算案

新华网渥太华2月3日电(记者赵青)加拿大议会众议院3日投票批准了保守党政府上月底提交的新财年预算案,这意味着总理哈珀领导的政府顺利通过了信任投票。

当天众议院以211票支持、91票反对的结果通过了新财年预算案。两个反对党新民主党和魁北克集团议员投了反对票,执政的保守党全体议员和最大反对党自由党的大多数议员投了支持票。

根据财政部长弗莱厄蒂1月27日提交的这一预算案,加政府将在今后两年内推出一项总额达400亿加元(1加元约合0.8美元)的经济刺激计划,通过基础设施建设、工人培训等项目以及减税等措施刺激经济发展,积极应对金融危机。
加拿大预算案投票均为信任投票,若无法通过,政府将被迫下台。由于新民主党和魁北克集团坚定地反对这一预算案,在议会席位中只占少数的保守党政府需要自由党的支持才能顺利过关。1月28日,自由党领袖伊格纳季耶夫表示将支持该预算案,但前提是政府要在今年3月、6月和12月定期向议会汇报预算执行情况。这一要求已包含在获得通过的预算案最后文本中。

政府预算案最终通过,标志着始于去年年底的加拿大政治危机暂时平息。去年11月,三大反对党因不满政府没有及时推出经济刺激方案,曾计划推翻保守党政府,成立联合政府取而代之。总理哈珀被迫请求总督暂时中止议会至今年1月底。

MPs approve federal budget

Harper government survives, Newfoundland and Labrador Liberals vote against

Last Updated: Tuesday, February 3, 2009 | 6:49 PM ET

The House of Commons passed the Conservative government’s budget Tuesday night by a 211 to 91 vote, ensuring the government’s survival.

The NDP and Bloc Québécois voted against the budget, while most of the Liberal party supported the Conservatives’ financial plan.

All six Liberal MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador voted against the budget. Four of them — Scott Andrews, Siobhan Coady, Judy Foote and Scott Simms — had argued the budget singles out their province and robs it of an estimated $1.6 billion in federal transfer payments. They said they would be breaking party ranks and opposing the budget in the vote.

The NDP clapped as the Newfoundland and Labrador MPs registered their nay votes while the Conservatives heckled them from across the floor.

There was little reaction from the Liberal members. Earlier Tuesday, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said that he would allow the MPs from the province to break party ranks and have a one-time-only protest vote against the budget. Gerry Byrne and Todd Russell then joined their Liberal colleagues from the province and registered a vote against the budget on Tuesday night.

The budget promises billions of dollars in new spending — ranging from money for infrastructure projects to aid for worker training and cash for enhanced employment insurance benefits — to help the country ride out the global economic slump.

The budget forecasts a federal deficit of $33.7 billion for the 2009-10 fiscal year and $29.8 billion the following year.

The bill included a Liberal amendment, which passed through the House on Monday in a 214 to 84 vote. The NDP and Bloc also voted against it.

The amendment requires regular reports to Parliament on the budget’s implementation and costs. The reports are expected in March, June and December.

Each report would be an opportunity for the Opposition to express confidence in the government, Ignatieff said last week.

The Conservatives required the support of the Liberals to ensure the budget bill passed.

A defeat would have toppled the minority Tory government and possibly led to some kind of coalition government or another election.

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