Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said on Monday that he would meet Governor General Michaelle Jean Tuesday to ask for the dissolution of the parliament and call for a new election.

"I cannot tell you how proud I am for what you have done in the past 17 months for all the Canadians," Martin told the Liberal caucus in a televised speech after the parliament passed a non-confidence vote, effectively toppling his minority government.

Martin went on to elaborate on the economic achievements of the Liberals, who have been in power for the past 12 years.

The non-confidence motion was passed Monday evening local time by a vote of 171 to 133 in the 308-member House of Commons.

Throughout Canadian history, only four federal governments have been swept from power more swiftly.
 
Harper introduced the motion Thursday, which got the support of the New Democratic Party and Bloc Quebecois, calling the Liberals law-breakers over the sponsorship scandal in which hundreds of millions of dollars were diverted to supporters.

The Liberal government was elected only last year. The non-confidence motion was backed by the New Democratic Party led by Jack Layton, which withdrew its support for the Liberal government last month. Bloc Quebecois also voted for the motion.

The election could be set on Jan. 16 or 23.

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2005)