The Death of the Coalition

Well it's official, the Coalition to overthrow Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government is dead. Today, Liberal leader Michael Ignatief ended a month of speculation by deciding not to support the coalition and instead allow the federal budget to pass, as long as the Conservative government agrees to the proposed amendment. This amendment, if agreed upon, would enable the Liberals to call an election if the current government fails to adhere to the budget released yesterday.

Of course, for those who are either convinced that Stephen Harper is the next great dictator or believe that Mr. Harper can do no wrong, this is a dark day in Canadian history. However, for those that actually wish to see our country attempt to deal with the current economic "crisis", rather than listen to the endless rhetoric of the politicians, this is a huge step forward.

Since becoming the leader of the Liberal party, Ignatief has been critcized for not being a true Canadian, after spending a number of years living in America. However, I believe Mr. Ignatief to be an educated, politically savvy individual who is not about to throw Canada into disarray for his own political agenda, unlike his predecessor, Stephan Dion, who despite suffering an embarrassing defeat during the last election that would have sent any other politician looking for the nearest rock to hide under, continued to make decisions that sent Canadians heads spinning.

Rather than resigning after the federal election, Dion attempted to turn the entire Canadian political system upside by forming a coalition of three, ideologically opposite, political parties. A coalition whose leaders were so blinded by their hatred for Stephen Harper and their desire for power, to stop to think whether they were acting in their own best interests or that of Canadians.

Immediately following Ignatieff's announcement today, he came under fire again. However, this time from his former "allies" Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe, who both claimed that by not supporting the coaltion government, the Liberals have in essence formed an alliance with the Conservatives. What makes these comments even more remarkable is that they come from a seperatist leader, who does not, in any way, have the best interests of Canadians in mind. If you ask me, I would much rather have the Liberals working with the Conservatives, than with the seperatists.

Today, for the first time, I see a glimmer of hope that this minority government may succeed. Ignatieff's decision enables the Harper government to operate, but the Liberals sent a clear message that if the Conservatives fail to meet expectations, they will be held accountable, and after all, isn't our ability to hold our government accountable for their actions the root of democracy?

Now Canadians have to watch and see if Ignatief will either prove as power hungry as Duceppe, Layton and his predecesor, Dion, and pull the trigger the minute the Harper government stumbles or will stay true to his word and act only if the Conservative government fails to make decisions that will benefit Canadians during the challenging months ahead. I guess only time will tell, but at least for now, democracy in Canada is safe again.