Berita Dunia.

Tue., June 23, 2009. OTTAWA -- The Federal Court of Canada is to hear arguments against the election call last fall by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.  Democracy Watch, a citizens' group that monitors ethics in government, is scheduled to argue before the court on Sept. 8 that Harper violated his own legislation by calling the election before he'd served four years in office.  A Federal Court prothonotary ruled Oct. 3 -- in the midst of the campaign -- that there was not enough time for a judge to hear the case before the election 11 days later.  Democracy Watch was seeking an order that the decision to dissolve Parliament and call an election violated new measures in the Canada Elections Act.  The group says Bill C-16 set fixed election dates every four years unless a minority government like Harper's is defeated by a non-confidence vote.  Democracy Watch is seeking a ruling that Parliament's dissolution and the election call were illegal in hopes that would prohibit

Canada's long-running minority Parliament closed quietly Friday for a three-month summer recess after a fractious session, which ended with MPs voting on a routine spending bill that had threatened to topple the government. The bill passed by a 214-82 margin with the support of the Liberals, though both the Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party voted against it. Liberal support — which was key to avoiding a rare summer election — came after Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff and Prime Minister Stephen Harper reached a deal earlier this week to have a panel study reforms to Employment Insurance over the summer. Deal on EI averts election The working group's discussions will include a consideration of the eligibility criteria for EI, including possible coverage for self-employed workers and lower eligibility thresholds. During the discussions, the Liberals will also have access to several briefing documents and data collected by the government. A report recommending any c

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff ended their political brinkmanship Wednesday with a deal to avoid an election - at least until the fall. The centrepiece of the agreement is a six-member working group that will examine possible changes to Employment Insurance. Those changes include a Conservative proposal to extend EI coverage to the self-employed, and a Liberal push to make the eligibility threshold the same across the country. The group will have to report back to Parliament by Sept. 28. The minority Conservative government will also be compelled to produce another economic report card to the House of Commons that week. And Harper agreed to give the Liberals an opposition day motion within eight days of the start of the fall session of Parliament - a key opportunity to trigger an election. In exchange, Ignatieff will not vote against the government Friday when the supplementary budget estimates come up in the Commons. The N

Prime Minister Stephen Harper responds to questions in the House of Commons as Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.