If there is a federal election this spring, as seems imminent, and if neither of the two main parties stages a stunning breakthrough or colossal collapse on the hustings, Canadians will find themselves with a fourth-straight minority government and another raucous Parliament paralyzed by partisanship and bombastic rhetoric.
No wonder voters aren’t thrilled by the prospect of a fourth election in just seven years, especially given the very real possibility that the outcome won’t change anything.
So just what do Canadians want? With a reluctance to give either the Tories or Liberals complete control for the next four or five years, yet fed up by the constant parade of elections every two years that invariably stem from a minority government, we’re clearly demanding that our politicians demonstrate a true spirit of co-operation and compromise in passing legislation that’s in the best interest of our country, not a particular political party.
Wishful thinking? Probably. But let’s also not forget the defeat of a minority government does not necessarily mean having to go to the polls. The Governor-General can ask the leader of the official Opposition to try to form a government by cobbling together a coalition with other parties in the House of Commons.
It may not be the perfect solution, but it certainly isn’t the evil spectre Tory attack ads inundating the airwaves of late would lead us to believe.
Coalition governments work elsewhere in the world, why not here? It certainly seems a better alternative to an election merry-go-round that only serves to further alienate voters, which, in turn, puts our entire democratic system in peril.
If the next election solves nothing, and the parties don’t heed our call to work together for more than 18-24 months, it may be worth a try.
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