Sometimes I wish that the US has a parliamentary system like Canada. No impeachment is needed to remove a government from power, just a vote of no confidence. In such a system, minor parties matter. Here in the US, voters are fed up with conservative Republicans’ predation on the poor and middle classes, while Democrats oppose spinelessly. I congratulate Canada for showing us the way. They dumped the conservative Harper government, requiring new elections for a new government to be formed.

The vote, engineered by the opposition Liberal Party and backed by two other opposition parties, triggers an election expected in early May.

The move stemmed from a ruling on Monday that the minority government was in contempt of parliament.

But the Conservatives are thought likely to keep power in a May election.

The House of Commons adjourned on Friday after the no-confidence motion brought by Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff passed on a 156-145 vote.

The vote came after a finding by a parliamentary committee led by the opposition parties that Mr Harper’s government had acted in contempt by failing to disclose the full costs of spending on anti-crime programmes, corporate tax cuts and plans to purchase stealth fighter jets.

On Saturday, Mr Harper will ask Governor General David Johnston to dissolve parliament, and following that, an election will be held after a minimum 36 days of campaigning.

Canadian analysts expect it will be called for the first week in May.

Nobody was surprised by the result of the confidence vote, says the BBC’s Lee Carter in Toronto.

Having led two minority governments, Mr [sic] Harper is hoping this time his party will win a majority at the ballot box, our correspondent says.

The state of the recovering Canadian economy, along with ethics and accountability, are expected to be the main election issues, he adds… [emphasis added]