As many of you will have read below, Patrick Edaburn notes that it appears as thought the political showdown in Canada has finally come to an end and that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservatives have staved off defeat. Newly appointed Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has agreed to provisionally support the Conservative budget so long as an amendment calling for regular updates on the stimulus impact of the budget are provided, and the Conservatives seem to have agreed at least unofficially.
Some corners are calling the move by Ignatieff cowardly, especially with the other opposition parties signaling their intentions to vote against the budget and bring government down. While I think that the proposition of a coalition government formed by the opposition parties was fantastic for injecting some much needed life into Canadian politics, I actually think that Ignatieff’s decision is best for Canadians and Canada.
I don’t say that because its important to have the perception of strong government in challenging economic times. Nor do I say that because I think the opposition parties have a responsibility to work with government on the issues of the day. I say it because I think Ignateiff understands the vital role that he and the Liberals can play in providing an effective opposition to the Conservatives over the coming years — in effect giving Canadians the government they haven’t had for the past three years.
See, it remains my stalwart opinion that democracy works best when contrasting points of view are forced to interact through the election of different parties. Strong government is best accompanied by a strong opposition, not just to hold government accountable, but also to offer up fresh and alternative ideas.
Over the past three years the Liberals have been so weakened and had such shoddy leadership that they’ve been completely incapable of providing any kind of capable opposition. The Bloq Québecois, being a regionalist and separatist party, lacks any significant credibility with the majority of Canadians, regardless of how effective an opposition party they might be. And the NDP still hasn’t been able to march past its all-time high of elected officials under Ed Broadbent in 1984.
So while Canada has three official opposition parties (and a fourth if one counts the Greens), all of those parties have been so preoccupied with their own little corner of woes that the Conservatives have only had their minority status as any kind of legislative inhibition. That was, until late November.
The opposition parties were effective in putting Harper and Conservatives on notice and checking their arrogant and unwarranted use of power. After the proroguing of government, the Liberals wisely brought in Ignatieff to replace Dion, who wields a gravitas that is required of the leader of a federal party. Ignatieff has already demonstrated a shrewdness and understanding of the political process that Dion never seemed able to comprehend, let alone master, understanding that providing that sharp opposition to government is both in the best way to increase the Liberals’ stock, while at the same time restoring a sense of balance to Canadian government that it has lacked for far too long.
So while it might not be the excitement of overthrowing government that some Canadians were hoping for, Ignatieff’s decision will once again provide the kind of debate and tenor that is necessary in a democracy. And for that, Canadians should thankful.