NDP Leader Jack Layton attacks the government during Question Period in the House of Commons on Sept. 29, 2009.CHRIS WATTIE/Reuters
Jack Layton is refusing to say whether he will stay home, abstain or stand up when the Liberal no-confidence motion comes to a vote Thursday afternoon.
The NDP Leader has said he will make sure Stephen Harper's minority government survives the vote, but he would not tip his hand as to how he will achieve his goal.
New Democrats could stay outside of the House of Commons, abstain, vote no-confidence in insufficient numbers to defeat the Conservatives, or vote with the government. The result will be the same, but Mr. Layton is trying to manage optics and find the best way to showcase its new-found faith in the Harper government.
Mr. Layton said he received a number of proposals at Wednesday's caucus meeting, and that his final consideration is ensuring the passage of changes to the employment-insurance program through Parliament.
"We are more determined than ever to make sure that $1-billion [in additional EI benefits]ends up where it needs to be as quickly as possible," Mr. Layton told reporters after meeting with his MPs.
He added that the NDP will decide how to vote on future confidence measures on a case-by-case basis. He said he will continue to fight plans to harmonize provincial sales tax in Ontario and British Columbia with the federal GST.
"We are not out of this recession, people are losing their jobs, and Mr. Harper wants to whack them with a new tax?" Mr. Layton said. "Our position on this tax has been spelled out. We think it is wrong."
Government officials have said that the agreements with Ontario and British Columbia require Ottawa to bring forward legislation by March 31, 2010, which would be a matter of confidence.
Mr. Layton said he will not weigh the current infighting in the Liberal Party as he decides whether the NDP continues to prop up the Conservative government.
Liberal MPs from Quebec, meanwhile, gathered Wednesday for their region caucus meeting and played down the impact of a string of negative news coverage, saying the sun is still rising in the east.
"Quebec is united behind [Liberal Leader]Michael Ignatieff," MP Pablo Rodriguez said.
Liberal MP Denis Coderre, whose resignation as Quebec lieutenant caused much of the present turmoil, did not show up.