M is for Minority Governments

There have been 11 minority governments in Canada, 13 if you count the ones replaced in between governments. Of the minority governments the most productive were those led by Lester B. Pearson when he worked with the NDP and brought in many of the social safety net programs now in existence notably the Canada Pension Plan and the Canada Health System. Interestingly while the various Liberal minority governments worked effectively with the NDP the Conservative minority governments have refused to work with any of the opposition parties during their brief stints as minority governments. One wonders what the principle is that holds the Conservative government back from working with other elected members of parliament to become an effective government? The Conservative government has made no real contributions to the Canadian social programs and the current administration’s promises are only dependent on clearing the deficit, and one can be virtually certain that by the time that is done the promises will be obsolete and forgotten. Quite pitiful.

Many voters are grumbling about the fact that they are going into a third election in 5 years, but let’s look at who is really the one causing the failure of this government. Prime Minister Harper flatly refuses to gain the support of any of the other opposition parties with any sort of concessions. The only reason his government has held up as long as it has is because the other parties have been reluctant to bring Canada to another election but enough is enough. There appear to be too many concessions to large corporations and not enough consideration to the majority of taxpayers and voters. The offerings are niggardly at best. In fact, considering the extraordinary amount of raises of the past few years to MPs and the insulting eight cents per month seniors were given (that was the same year the MPs got an additional $16,000 to $60,000 per year).