odd spin on the will of the people

The news of the day seems to be how the Conservatives and some of the right-wing radio talk show allies, and the National Post are resurrecting the "coalition" word. They're once again trying to scare Canadians into thinking the Bloc Québecois will be in the Cabinet Room if the Conservatives don't win a majority in the anticipated election.

Today, John Baird was ranting as only he can about the Opposition attempting to defy the will of the people. Seems he had trouble remembering that the majority of Canadians voted for someone other than the Conservatives in the last election. In 2008, only one out of three voters wanted a Conservative government. Sixty-two percent of voters chose someone other than Harper's Conservatives.

For Baird to claim the Conservatives are the chosen ones is insulting to Canadians and a further example of the contempt they have for democracy and Parliament.

In a country that seems likely to elect Parliaments in which no single party holds a majority of seats well into the future, it's time we came to deal with how minority governments work. Other countries have learned to live with consecutive minorities and accept that its the majority of MPs who decide who forms a government, not the single party with a plurality. Coalitions are arguably more democratic than first-past-the-post governments when they represent more voters.

With 46% of the seats in the House of Commons, but only 38% of the vote, it is easy to argue that it is the Conservatives who are undermining the will of the people. Conservatives better be careful where they try to go with their argument.