Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin (foreground) gazes across the House of Commons chamber in Ottawa as Conservative leader Stephen Harper (background, left) looks on.

Canada's three opposition parties, which control a majority of seats in Parliament, voted against Prime Minister Paul Martin's government, claiming his Liberal Party no longer has the moral authority to lead the nation because of a corruption scandal within his party.

The loss means an election for all 308 seats in the lower House of Commons on Jan. 23. Martin and his Cabinet will continue to govern until the election is held and issued a flurry of spending announcements as it tried to advance its agenda ahead of its demise.

Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper joined with the New Democratic and Bloc Quebecois parties to bring down the government, prompting the first Christmas and winter campaign in mostly Christian Canada in 26 years. Recent polls have given the Liberals a slight lead over the Conservatives, with the New Democrats in third place.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 3, 2005
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