Chill

I swear if I get one more email asking me to sign a petition to save democracy in Canada, or read another comment on the crisis in the government, I'm going to start bleeding from my ears. Regardless of what you may feel about the players or the parties, and personally I think they are all bounders, rascals and scallywags, what is happening in Ottawa is part of our system of government.

Minority Governments are frequently brought down by their opposition in Parliament. Usually, but not always, that leads to an election. The Governor General asks the other parties if they can form a government. If they can then they form the government until such time as they are brought down by a vote of no confidence.

It is interesting that when the opposition doesn't bring down a government they are often portrayed as "weak" or fearful of an election, and when they do well its a crisis.  As to the change in policies or governance that may come from a swing in power I'll leave that to people who are better equipped, and quite frankly care more.

Personally I think it is just a fine example of what is wrong with our system of government, and that is that it is a Party system. I've said before that the Party system is the biggest impediment to democracy in our country, and that we'd be far better served by a consensus style of government.  There could still be votes on non confidence but they would be against individuals, such as an elected Prime Minister, not against a Government. Minority Governments would not exist, we could elect the best people for our constituencies, and then maybe things would get done in this country.