Speaker schedules opposition motions after Tories block own non-confidence vote

The House of Commons Speaker has intervened to end a parliamentary impasse by ruling that opposition business will happen later this week — after the Conservatives blocked their own motion to bring down the government Monday morning.

Greg Fergus has scheduled opposition days for Thursday and Friday, meaning the government could face another non-confidence vote as early as Monday.

His decision follows an unsuccessful attempt this morning by Liberal House leader Karina Gould to temporarily stop a filibuster that has taken up much of the Commons' time for nearly two months.

The Conservatives signalled their intention to introduce a non-confidence motion quoting NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's criticism of the Liberals, in a bid to get his caucus to vote to bring down the minority government.

But the Tories rejected Gould's offer to have that motion heard today. The party said it would only end its filibuster if the Liberals provide documents they're demanding, or if the NDP agrees to vote non-confidence in the government.

The filibuster is part of an ongoing privilege debate related to a Conservative demand that the Liberals provide unredacted documents to the RCMP about allegations of misspending at a now-defunct green technology fund.

Opposition parties must be given four days to introduce their own motions before Dec. 10 — also the deadline for the House to vote to approve billions of dollars in spending, without which some government departments risk running out of money.

Two Conservative opposition motions declaring non-confidence in the government were defeated in September, with the Bloc Québécois and the NDP voting against them.

The Bloc has since pledged to work with the other opposition parties to defeat the government after the Liberals refused to adopt a Bloc bill to raise old age security payments for seniors under age 75.

Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet said his party would only vote in favour of non-confidence motions if the party deems that to be in the best interests of Quebec.

Singh has said his party will take each non-confidence vote as it comes. He has said that while his party is ready for an election, it does not want to push for one immediately.