It's not surprising that the rebel MPs are trying to team up with the Tories. While their attempts to force a leadership election were successful, the dissidents now find their position within the Alliance Party somewhat tenuous. True, Day has agreed to resign, and a leadership convention will be held in 2002. However, the date of the leadership race is yet to be determined, and Day has yet to announce whether he will throw his hat into the ring. What is clear is that he intends to remain as party leader throughout the fall, despite some resistance from the Alliance caucus. Furthermore, the groundswell of support the dissidents may have counted upon from party faithful hasn't developed. Instead, some have banded together to form "Grassroots for Day," an "independent, grassroots organization committed to the defense of the Canadian Alliance and Stockwell Day from the destructive activities of a few Ottawa lobbyists," according to its Web site. While there has been a significant erosion of support for Day within the Alliance Party, it hasn't disappeared altogether. All of which goes to show that the traditional, old-style palace coup doesn't work in a party committed to participation at the grassroots level.
In the meantime, the national council has refused to expel the dissidents from the party, a wise move since it forces them to make the tough decision of whether to tear up their party membership. Their response was to meet with the Tories in Mont Tremblant Quebec, last weekend, to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition. The hope is that by working together in formats such as House of Commons Committees and during Question Period, the coalition can mount a more effective opposition to the Liberals.
While the talks went reasonably well, it's possible that the proposed coalition will never come to pass. The dissidents have asked to be given official party status, which means a larger parliamentary budget and more time in Question Period. However, other parties say they will oppose the move, since the dissidents are still members of the Alliance Party. The final decision rests with the Speaker of the House; however, it's possible the rebels will be forced to tear up their Alliance Party membership to achieve official party status. It's unlikely they will choose to do so. The coalition with the Tories appears to be a stopgap move designed to give them more funds and exposure within the house until the issue of the Alliance leadership is settled next year. Furthermore, their present situation is rather precarious, since they have only twelve members, the bare minimum needed for official party status. If they are given official party status and even one rebel crosses the floor to return to the Alliance Party fold (or actually join the Tories for that matter), they will lose that designation.
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