NDP and Bloc pre-coalition talks: as it should be!

CTV has broken the story that the NDP and the Bloc have had talks for a "considerable period of time" about a coalition. CTV is taking the angle that this means there are "political motives" to bringing down the government. That is, CTV and their favourite commentators (I'm listening to Ezra Levant right now) are implying that they were not really motivated to act by Flaherty's financial update.

I disagree. In a minority parliament, when minority governments are likely to be the norm in the foreseeable future, and when we've just had an election, I believe that opposition parties should be ready to present an alternative should the governing party try to act unilaterally to do something which the opposition thinks is harmful to Canada. The alternative can't be an election at this point in time, and so the opposition should be ready to govern, if necessary.

Even though the Conservatives have now retreated on public funding of political parties, and on taking away the right of civil servants to strike, and are moving up the date of the budget, the organization of an alternative, coalition government should continue. It is needed to keep the government honest and focused on the important issues of the day.

Prepare the coalition and keep the engine running to, at the very least, keep the party in power honest and focused on governing.

Fighting the Conservatives Together

There is talk today about opposition parties perhaps being willing to form a coalition government. This is in response to the Conservatives' lack of definite policies to address the global economic crisis and use of the crisis as a screen to seek political advantage. They want to save $30 million by cutting public funding for political parties - a move that would, in the short term, greatly favour the Conservative party, but do nothing to address the economy. The government may fall on a confidence vote in the next few days and the possibility of a coalition amongst the current opposition parties would be a very strong bargaining chip.

Today I received an email from Steven MacKinnon, Michael Ignatieff's national campaign director. The email draws attention to the Conservatives' move to cut public funding and then asks for donations to Mr. Ignatieff's leadership campaign because, "Michael Ignatieff can only succeed with your support."

That rubs me the wrong way. It rubs me the wrong way because it's taking a direct and imminent threat to the Liberal Party and the Canadian political system, and using it to appeal for funds to a particular leadership candidate's campaign. Even though we have a Liberal Party leadership race under way, in the House of Commons we, the Liberal Party, should still be fighting the Conservatives together. If we do not fight them as one team, we won't win. If the NDP, Bloc Quebcois and the Liberal Party can get together to form a coalition, surely the Liberal caucus could work tous ensemble.

Fight the Conservatives as a united party. Support Stéphane Dion in the House. Fight the leadership race elsewhere.