Modeling Journey

But if the opposition parties really do subscribe to the stark sentiments expressed in this week’s Liberal motion, it will be hard for any of them to justify continuing to do business with the government at the time of the budget.

In a minority Parliament, the opposition can blame the government for many things but not for its own self-inflicted impotence.

Ignatieff, Layton and Duceppe could hardly take the Conservatives to task for alleged abuses of the democratic process in an election campaign 12 to 18 months from now without being asked why they turned out to be ready to overlook them this spring.

And do a deal with Stephen Harper to prop up his government for the next five years.

Judging from the concessions Great Britain’s Nick Clegg has wrestled from the Labor and Conservative parties over the past week, Layton might want to rethink his approach and refine his bargaining skills.

Over the course of three minority governments, the NDP has failed to advance its cause of proportional representation one inch. In the current Parliament, Layton has been left at the altar of a coalition by the Liberals and routinely ignored by the Conservatives.