OTTAWA –Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff says there will be "consequences" for the trouble that Denis Coderre, his former Quebec lieutenant, has caused the party this week.

"This is politics. This is not personal," Ignatieff told reporters. "For every action, there are consequences. I'm very clear about that. Mr. Coderre is very clear about that."

Ignatieff would not say what form the punishment will take - ejection from caucus is the most severe punishment that the Liberal leader has available, but to do so with Coderre could invite the outspoken MP to make even more vocal condemnations of Ignatieff and his circle.

Coderre is due to appear on Tout le monde en parle, a hugely popular Quebec television show, on Sunday night - an appearance that will almost certainly stir up controversy because of his explosive exit from the party lieutenant's post earlier this week. When he walked off that job, claiming he no longer had the "moral authority" to serve as the chief MP in Quebec, he lashed out at the "Toronto advisers" around Ignatieff.

Coderre was annoyedhe was overruled in a dispute over where former justice minister Martin Cauchon would run in the next election.

On Sunday as well, the Liberal party's Quebec wing will be gathering in Quebec City and Ignatieff is due to speak to the beleaguered troops. The meeting is turning into a litmus test of Ignatieff's grip on the party and a measure of Liberal fortunes in the province ahead of an election that could happen anytime.

The Liberal leader, who is putting forward a motion of non-confidence today in the Commons, says his party feels it has no option but to vote for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's ouster from government. Ignatieff says he's met too many Canadians who are desperate for the government to do more in the faltering economy.

"How do I explain to these people that I keep letting this government go on?" he said. "That's why, in my heart of hearts, after much reflection, we've decided as a party that we can't continue to give the government confidence in the House of Commons."

The non-confidence motion will probably fail to unseat Harper's government, since the New Democrats plan to vote with the Conservatives. Ignatieff would not be drawn into a discussion about the NDP's decision, saying simply that was their choice.

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