Still up in the air, but ...

The details were first reported last night, but it looks like we have an idea of what a coalition government might look like here in Canada -- if it pulls off and that is still actually far from a certainty. The Liberals and NDP would form the government with the Libs getting 18 Cabinet seats and the NDs 6 (none of them economic or the deputy PM slot). The Bloc Québécois would not be part of the inner circle but would agree to support the coalition. The grouping would last 30 months.

The two hang-ups? First, who's going to lead this thing. Will it be Stéphane Dion, or Michael Ignatieff, or someone else who would be a caretaker? The leader has to be someone who can be a uniter but is still willing to take the fall if the leadership convention in May goes against him or her. While I'd like it to be Ignatieff, there is an argument that would give him an unfair advantage going into the leadership. If it was Dion, would he really relish being a PM for just five months?

Second, and it's something I and some others talked about the other day before the MSM picked up on it -- Stephen Harper could always ask the GG to prorogue Parliament and try again with a new session in the new year. Obviously a no-confidence vote could not take place while Parliament is not sitting, and I believe there would have to be eight sitting days minimum before such a new motion could be considered (since the Speech from the Throne would be the first topic for debate).

The only time I can recall such a protracted session was in 1988 after the free trade election. There was a brief three week session (two in the House, one in the Senate) to ratify the treaty after the election was forced on the issue in the previous Parliament.

But it would be one of the most cynical moves imaginable, and GG Jean would have to ask, what stunt is being pulled here? It would be an impossible position for her. If she accepted prorogation she'd be stopping a legitimate debate in Parliament from taking its course. If she refused, she'd be accused of taking a partisan position.

In the UK, there's a new session that begins every fall. It's as simple as that. It'd be a lot easier if we did it that way here -- but Canadian politics is a peculiar thing.

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