Just When We Thought It Was Safe

Posted by Laura Steiner Sep 18, 2009

An election has been stopped, the Conservatives look likely govern likely until next spring. They are supported for now at least by the socialists (NDP), and the separatists (BQ); proving the old adage politics does make strange bedfellows.

But it takes the wind out of Conservative attack ads doesn't it? They were all set to hit voters over the head with the fear of a Liberal-led coalition supported by the so-called "socialists and separatists" and now here they stand supported by the same two parties they so loathe. But voters have to ask themselves: how long will this last? How long will the left-leaning NDP be able to support the right-leaning conservatives? How long until Stephen Harper introduces policy so completely reprehensible the other two parties will refuse to support it?

The answer: Apparently not very long. For about a day, we had peace. For one day it looked like we were going to have a government that would actually govern. It turns out, that we may have been jumping the gun. The Liberals have announced they're seeking a deal to quickly pass the EI legislation, in order to take the alibi away from the NDP. Ignatieff gets to look a little statesman-like; responsible because he's sticking up for the unemployed. But it also looks like his various attempts to cause an election are nothing but a naked power grab. His party should be jumping for joy there's no election; they're losing big time in the polls- the latest one giving a 5 point lead to Harper's Conservatives in Ontario, and they're fairly unpopular in Quebec as well.

And as for the NDP, it is quite possible Jack Layton had a moment of clarity. Maybe he woke up one morning, and in glaringly obvious moment realized that his far left NDP was putting itself in knots supporting the right-leaning Conservatives. Maybe he realized his party is alienating their core base of support, and now he wants an out. That could be part of what Ignatieff's doing; helping his fellow opposition leader out of a jam.

It's a shame if I'm right. Because, like many other Canadians I find much to my own disbelief and horror that for once, I agree with Jack Layton. He's right, Parliament needs to work, and it has to work. Because there are more practical ways to spend $300 million, because the Canadian economy is in recovery mode. And if there's anything investors dislike more, it's political instability. So, why can't Michael Ignatieff see that?

For more information on Harper's EI Package see:

Ignatieff Says No To Coalition

For differences between a Majority and a Minority government see:

Canada's Parliament: Majority vs. Minority