Canada: A Matter of When

In the 95 years since confederation, only once—in 1926—has a Canadian government been toppled from power by losing a vote in the House of Commons. Last week Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, 67, met Parliament for the first time since last June's elections, commanding a shaky conservative minority of 116 members in the 265-seat Commons. As Governor General Georges Vanier read the traditional speech from the throne setting forth the minority government's legislative program, the question was not so much whether the government will tumble, thrusting Canada into a new national election,...

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