Very seldom in politics does a party have the same opportunity to make a decision which will have enormous consequences for the country, as the Bloc and NDP leaders have today. Courtesy of the Liberal caucus, these two parties are now in a position to determine how the country will be governed in the next two years.
The Bloc and NDP face three choices this week, which we can call the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Choice 1 - The Bad: They can vote against the Liberal amendment to the Throne Speech, and Canada will be governed for the next two years by the policies set out in the Tory Throne Speech.
Both the Bloc and the NDP have already opposed the Tory Throne Speech. From a moral viewpoint, it appears that they have decided that not having the country governed by the policies in the Throne Speech would result in the greater good for the greatest number of Canadians.
Choice 2 - The Ugly: The Bloc and NDP can vote to support the Liberal amendment to the Throne Speech. While this is not their preferred choice, it would be better for most Canadians if they were governed for the next two years by the Tory Throne Speech with the Liberal amendments, rather than just by the Tory Throne Speech as it now stands.
This would be a moral choice for those parties, consistent with the same moral principle, the greater good of the greatest number of Canadians.
Choice 3 - The Good: If the Bloc and NDP vote for the Liberal amendments, there is a strong possibility (perhaps, in my view, probability) that the Tory government will call an election.
If an election is called, the Throne Speech dies and the next government will bring in its own Throne Speech. The Bloc and NDP will have achieved what they set out to achieve, when the debates started - the ending of the Tory Throne Speech.
What a wonderful chance for the NDP and Bloc to decide Canada's future for the next two years!
Of course, if the NDP or the Bloc do not vote for the Liberal amendments to the Tory Throne Speech, then they should remember the words which Brian Mulroney flung into the face of the hapless John Turner during their TV debate: You, sir, had a choice. You could have said No.
Messrs. Layton and Duceppe: You, sirs, have a choice. You could say No to the country being governed under the Tory Throne Speech, by voting for the Liberal amendment to that speech.
It is your choice. History - and the voters - will judge what choice you make.
