Canada's democracy under fire: PM

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OTTAWA, Dec 4 (AFP): Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged Canadians in a televised address Wednesday to reject an opposition bid to oust his ruling Conservatives and install a leftist-separatist coalition without elections.
"Canadians take pride in our history as one of the world's oldest continuous democracies," said the prime minister. "During the past 141 years, political parties have emerged and disappeared, leaders have come and gone, and governments have changed.
"Constant in every case however is the principle that Canada's government has always been chosen by the people."
"This is a pivotal moment in our history," he said. "Tonight, I pledge to you that Canada's government will use every legal means at our disposal to protect our democracy, to protect our economy and to protect Canada."
The nation sank into a political crisis after opposition parties this week vowed to unseat Harper's minority government and install a coalition led by Liberal leader Stephane Dion.
The opposition move was triggered over differences on how to seed an economic turnaround as Canada confronts the global financial crisis.
But it came only seven weeks after Harper was reelected with a stronger minority in the country's third snap elections in four years.