Andrew Coyne's column today in the National Post is a must read (even though it is subscriber only). In it he gives voice to the dream that we will have a true realignment of the political left and right in Canada. A realignment that has occurred pretty much everywhere else in the Western world but to this point had passed Canada by. If Mr. Coyne is correct (and at this point it is a big if) it could be the NDP who triggers it.
...If Mr. Layton cannot support the Liberals before the election, he can no more support them after it. If they are irredeemably corrupt in November or December, they are not less so in January. And if he can no longer support the Liberals, he has no other choice nut to support the Conservatives. Or at least not defeat them, which amounts to the same thing.
...Isn't it possible Mr. Layton might go back to supporting the Liberals, if they made him sufficiently generous offer? Yes it's possible. But why would he? Not only would he make himself an utter laughingstock, popping back in power the same parcel of rogueshe had just removed from it, but he would be closing off a historic opportunity for the NDP. Mr. Layton's ambition is to remake the NDP as a mainstream contender for power. Such erratic behaviour in its leader would be hardly be evidence of that. Worse, he would be throwing the Grits a lifeline, when they were most in need of an anvil.
In the end this is the "Tony Blair Play". Does Jack Layton want to find a "third-way" and position his party as the Party of the Left or does he want the NDP to continue as the Conscience of the Left. Does he want to position the NDP as a party to run the country or as the party that forces the Liberal Party to enact liberal policy.
The future of politics in Canada will be determined by the answer to that question.
