The World - News from March 9, 1988

The government of Manitoba, the only socialist administration in Canada’s 10 provinces, lost a vote of confidence in the provincial legislature by a 28-27 margin. Premier Howard Pawley’s New Democratic Party had been clinging to power with a one-seat majority in the legislature, but a New Democrat legislator voted with the opposition Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties on a crucial budget measure, and the result was considered a vote of no confidence. Pawley indicated that his party will meet today to decide whether to call an early election. It is traditional in Canada for a government defeated in a confidence vote to go to the polls.