Conservative Leader Stephen Harper emerged from an emergency caucus meeting in Ottawa late Monday night, saying his party cannot support the government and that a vote of confidence should take place as soon as possible.
Harper called the decision "unanimous," declaring that his party remains committed to defeating a Liberal government "mired" in corruption scandals.
"It is also apparent that the Liberal party does not today have the support of the majority of members of the House of Commons," he said. "It should face the House of Commons in a vote at the earliest possible opportunity."
The Liberals, meanwhile, returned to the House of Commons Monday from a week-long break and immediately put up a roadblock to a Tory non-confidence motion that could topple them.
In the latest move in this parliamentary showdown, Liberal House leader Tony Valeri attempted to have a Harper-sponsored non-confidence motion declared out of order.
The Conservatives introduced three motions of no-confidence in April. Harper hopes to get Commons to vote on the first motion as early as May 18.
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