By choosing to sit out confidence motions that could topple the minority government, Liberal MPs on average participated in only 64% of recorded votes in the House this parliamentary session -- just below the 64.7% of eligible voters who cast valid ballots in the 2006 general election, a Canwest News Service analysis shows.
When they did show up for votes, more often than not, the Liberals voted in line with the Harper government. More than 60% of votes by Liberals on bills, amendments and motions were in step with the Conservatives. The official Opposition supported the government on extending the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, on its centrepiece crime bill, and on other parliamentary business, such as a bill regarding the settlement of international investment disputes.
By contrast, Bloc Quebecois MPs cast 41% of their votes with the Tories while New Democrats voted with the government only 26% of the time.
The voting records support the NDP's claim that the Liberals are not truly functioning as an official Opposition as they seek to avoid an election behind struggling leader Stephane Dion.
"Such a massive truancy is really something that should cause a lot of voters to wonder what's going on," said NDP Leader Jack Layton.
While opposition parties often vote with the government on procedural motions, Mr. Layton said the Liberals show a degree of support that effectively offers the Tories a de facto majority.
"They're supposed to be the official Opposition but the job is not being done by them. They're not showing up for work."
Every MP had the opportunity to vote as many as 76 times since the session began in October. But the average Liberal MP cast just 49 votes -- the worst rate of the four major parties.
Conservative MPs voted an average of 73 times. Bloc MPs ranked second, at 71 times, followed by NDP MPs, each averaging 68 votes.
Mr. Dion cast just 33 votes, less than half his opportunities. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been counted in 49 recorded votes, despite a travel schedule that often takes him out of Ottawa when the House is sitting. Mr. Layton and Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe both stood to vote 73 times.
Former prime minister Paul Martin, who remains a Liberal MP, has the worst voting record of all. He has not voted once this session.
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