Photo by BM Design Former Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent was part of the coalition talks and has said "a very constructive, positive agreement has been reached between the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party that will bring stimulus to the economy, which is badly needed." There are going to be a lot of jobs, a protection of pensions and I think we can look forward to a very constructive period," Stephen Harper said last week. While the details of the agreement have been worked out, Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean would still need to approve any coalition presented to her. Apparently, the parties have agreed to present a $30-billion stimulus package that would offer substantial aid to the troubled auto and forestry industries. The deal also calls for the formation of an economic advisory panel of experts that would include Paul Martin, John Manley, Frank McKenna and Roy Romanow. The proposed deal sees the NDP hold 25 per cent of cabinet positions, while the positions of finance minister, treasury board president and deputy prime minister would be held by Liberals. The Bloc Québécois while not an official part of the deal is still essential to the coalition's survival. It is reported that the deal would last 30 months when asked whether the coalition is for 18 months or two years, Liberal MP Gerard Kennedy said, "It's actually for a longer period of time than that." A time frame was not detailed.