The End Of It All (Unless It Isn't)

Well, it looks like this should be the end of the coalition, and I still tend to suspect that despite the apparent internal Liberal support for it, I have a feeling that we will either see the budget pass at the end of January (which, interestingly, would validate Harper's decision to prorogue somewhat), or an election. But I have a few more thoughts at the at least temporary end to one of the more interesting periods we've seen in recent Canadian policital history.

1) Harper shouldn't have requested the prorogation of Parliament. Although the coalition would have been an undemocratic and rejected option by the majority of Canadians (read any poll, or just look at the last election results), avoiding that option by similarly undemocratically proroguing Parliament doesn't help matters. This was a mistake by Harper. Although I see his point and do believe that the suggested coalition would be one of the biggest mistakes this country has ever made, proroguing Parliament simply expands the problem and looks equally undemocratic.

2) So what should he have done? Put back in the party-financing bill into the confidence vote scheduled for Monday, speak to the country and explain that he had previously agreed to EVERY SINGLE THING the coalition requested of him, and that the coalition was determined to gain power regardless, and die on THAT sword. I honestly think (should that have happened) we'd either be in an election campaign right now, or in the middle of an incredibly unstable coalition government that would have ended up with us back at the polls in 6 months time.

3) John Manley (who probably has more respect from me right now than every other Liberal party member) has eloquently explained why the coalition idea is bad for both the country and the Liberal party (Saturday's Globe and Mail). Frank McKenna also said he was never part of the whole "unelected and rejected" group. As a result, that band is down to a duo - Paul Martin and Roy Romanow. And there is still time for them to reject this as well.

4) Michael Ignatieff is making a major miscalculation. If he honestly thinks that the majority of Canadians are behind this little coalition, I suggest that he force an election when the budget is presented and take that coalition to Canadians. Good luck with that, sir.

5) I have no problem with coalition governments in general. The problem is that this type of situation is unprecedented, not just in Canada, but globally. In Israel and France and Germany and Australia (all examples used by pro-coalition proponents), coalitions are prepared in advance of the elections, and people actually know who they are voting for. Furthermore, the majority of those countries use at least some form of proportional representation, which lends itself to workable coalition governments rather than a hastily-patched-together-centre-left-separatist coalition that has no stability whatsoever.

6) I have heard the whole "62% majority" argument so much it is ridiculous. It wasn't 8 weeks ago that Layton and Dion and Duceppe were all fighting and swearing that they would never be in bed together, and now they are going to lead the country together? That sounds stable.

7) The coalition actually taking power after the country less than 8 weeks ago gave the ruling party an increased mandate is simply an abuse of the process. Dion was rejected like no other Liberal leader in history, and he was going to lead this thing? How, pray tell, is that democratic? I have no problem with the opposition voting the government down and going to another election (in fact, that would be very appropriate). But to try to grab power like this is simply unheard of in our system.

8) And finally, the major problem I have with the Bloc being part of this alleged coalition? The money that would have come from an economic stimulus package as presented by the coalition would have focused the bailout on two sectors: the Ontario automobile industry, and the Quebec lumber industry. That is why the Bloc was so interested - huge points for Quebec.

Unfortunately for the good of the country, the Bloc lumber industry is in a far more stable state than (say) the BC lumber industry, and there was no suggestion made of helping them out. And the Ontario automobile industry? Please. Let's be perfectly blunt - what is the point of making new cars if nobody has the money to buy them?

None of the above has any bearing on the fact that Harper should not have prorogued Parliament. But to suggest that the coalition would have been the best option for a stable government through the worst economic situation since the Great Depression is simply not seeing the big picture.