My mailbox is overflowing with more political mail in these past few days than during the entire election.
There seems to be much panic that a Canadian coalition government is possible.
As a Canadian voter it is important for me to put things in perspective. Maybe take a deep breath and just see what we are not noticing.
The first thing is that Canadians rejected ALL Parties as their choice for a majority government. Now, this isn’t good or bad but the way the results came out.
Next, the idea of Parties getting together to form coalitions is a topic of common interest after any minority government is elected. Always has been and probably always will be. The sky isn’t falling, okay?
It’s just uncommon and we like the status quo ways……things are supposed to go a certain way or we get very upset!
The present governing Party itself has looked for a coalition as a way to topple the government in the past. Once again, this isn’t good or bad, but simply the machine of government operating as what it is. Each Party would like to discover a way to bring its interests to the forefront. We may like it or not like it, depending on where our political sympathies lie.
In the cases of ruling minority Governments, finding support among Opposition members for proposed legislation has been the order of the day. So, the two major Parties have trained Parliament in the use of coalitions, and this is pretty legal as far as I know.
Now, forming a coalition has nothing to do with the destruction of democracy or the opening of some kind of Pandora’s Box. It has mostly to do with certain people not liking the rules of its own democracy, and using the old fear tactics about what ‘might’ happen. I’ve heard it all in every election.
Am I concerned about a coalition Government? I am more concerned about the lack of transparency or lack of authenticity among all the politicians and Canadian Press than about a new experiment in Canadian government.
Change hurts at times and sometimes what results is a transformation. Is it possible that something exciting could be in the offing for Canada as a way to political enlightenment?
To me, that’s what really matters.
Rich