These are odd times which must challenge the prospective conservative voter. There seems to all of a sudden be an interest in taking the lead from Jack Layton and the NDP and letting a moment pass. From The Toronto Star:

"If there's non-confidence motions before the House we'll be voting against confidence," Layton told reporters in Vancouver. "We don't believe the government deserves our confidence any longer." Layton even went farther than Harper has gone, stating he would vote against the Liberals' supplementary budget estimates Dec. 8 or any other matter that was a confidence vote. Harper wouldn't go that far yesterday, saying his party might even vote for the Liberal spending plan. Instead, the Conservative leader said he wants to bring down the government "the old-fashioned way. "The best way to do it is a clear motion of non-confidence, probably a motion that specifies the government's corruption record," he said.

I really do not know what to make of it. Is this just a very bad call on the part of Conservative leader Harper which highlights his chippiness or have the NDP actually played a card this well? If the old war horse Ed Broadbent were to personally move a motion of no confidence for the NDP on its chosen terms what choice would Harper have left but to follow? Very strange times.