OTTAWA -- Canada's opposition parties signed an agreement Monday to form the country's first coalition government if they defeat Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority Conservatives in a vote of confidence next week.

The Liberals and the New Democratic Party will lead the coalition with the support of the separatist Bloc Québécois. Stéphane Dion, leader of the Liberal Party, the largest opposition party in the House of Commons, would head the coalition if the Conservatives fall short in the vote of confidence, which is slated for Monday, party members said.

Environment Minister Jim Prentice, of the Conservatives, called the opposition parties' move "an attempt in effect to impose an alternative government upon Canadians, a government that was not elected barely six weeks ago, and a coalition that is supported by separatists, people who would break up our country."

Mr. Harper on Friday postponed a House of Commons vote of confidence on the government's economic update made public Thursday.

He made concessions to that update over the weekend, dropping proposals to scrap taxpayer subsidies for political parties and temporarily banning strikes in the public sector.

If the opposition parties vote against the economic update on Dec. 8, that would be tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the ruling Conservative government.

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