QUEBEC -- Stephen Harper symbolically tossed out the first hamburger yesterday, kicking off his party's barbecue season at what was billed as a "family celebration" of Quebec's Fete nationale, formerly known as St. Jean Baptiste day.
But the Conservative leader wasn't in a mood to party, after the Bloc Quebecois joined the Liberals and NDP late Thursday night to gang up on his Tories in a deal that allowed passage of Bill C-48.
Bill C-48, which includes more money for public transit, is a package of concessions NDP leader Jack Layton wrung out of the Liberal government last month in return for NDP support.
"I don't think anybody in Canada voted for a Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition, but that's what we've got," Mr. Harper said. "We've become the only party actually opposing the government, and we'll continue to oppose it and I've made it clear, we're prepared to have an election at anytime," he added.
The deal also cleared the way for passage next week of Bill C-38, legalizing same-sex marriage.
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