TORONTO - Canada's opposition parties have agreed in principle to form a coalition that would topple Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government, a party official said. The opposition Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois, the parties that would make up the new bloc, say that Harper has no solid plan to deal with the global economic crisis. Harper's party won enough votes in the Oct. 14 national election to stay in power, but its hold is tenuous because it did not win a majority of Parliament's 308 seats. The party must rely on opposition support to pass budgets and legislation.

The Liberals and New Democrats have agreed to a coalition government structure that would give them a majority of seats, a New Democrat party official said Sunday. In the new government, the Liberals would have 19 Cabinet ministers and the New Democrats will have six, the official said.

The official said the New Democrats, who are left-of center, didn't ask for the finance cabinet position.

The official said discussions on other aspects on the agreement continue and a deal is close to being completed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not ready to publicly announce the deal.

The third member of the proposed coalition, Bloc Quebecois, would hold no Cabinet seats under the deal. Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe has said the party has no interest in governing Canada but will back the coalition. The Bloc is a separatist party from the French-speaking province of Quebec that seeks independence from Canada.

Together, the three parties hold 163 parliamentary seats compared to the Conservatives' 143 seats. Independents hold the two remaining seats.

New Democrat lawmaker Thomas Mulcair said the Liberals and New Democrats disagree on Canada's involvement in the war in Afghanistan but it won't prevent them from governing together. The New Democrats oppose the war, while the Liberals support it.

It's not clear if Liberal leader Stephane Dion would become prime minister should Harper be toppled in a vote of no confidence on Dec. 8, the earliest date possible after the prime minister delayed such a vote.

The Liberals are in the midst of a leadership race after Dion said he would step down in May following October's election loss.

Harper has criticized the opposition moves as an effort to take power without facing the voters. In a bid to save itself, his government on Sunday scrapped part of its contentious economic update that would have banned civil service strikes and moved up the federal budget date to Jan. 27.

Harper has already withdrawn a contentious political funding proposal. The proposal would have scrapped public subsidies for political parties. The opposition relies on the subsidies far more than the Conservative party.

Analysts say Harper made major a misstep by proposing it because the opposition has now united to topple him.

The Liberals said they are considering introducing a motion declaring no confidence in the minority Conservative government. A Harper defeat on such a vote could set the stage for another election or give the opposition a chance to form a government.

Written By ROB GILLIES

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