In 1997, Stephen Harper and Tom Flanagan jointly penned an essay titled "Our Benign Dictatorship" in which they laid out why the Liberal government of the time was essentially undefeatable, as well as what would be required for it's defeat. Namely, they pointed to electoral co-operation (between Reform and the PCs) in the form of not running candidates against one another in close ridings and a possible coalition government after the fact.

Today, Philip Resnick and Reg Whitaker in The Tyee wrote an open letter calling on the Liberal, New Democratic and Green leaders to make such a deal. While infinitely shorter than the Harper and Flanagan essay, the letter's tone and suggestions are remarkably similar, especially in its call for electoral cooperation and a coalition government.

Some may cry foul over any coalition government overthrowing a party with a plurality of seats, such as last winter's ill-fated attempt. While that coalition arrangement was illegitimate in the eyes of most voters, a coalition that is announced before voters cast their ballots - knowing that such an arrangement will follow should no party win a majority of seats - would be legitimate. The quality of such a government is an entirely separate debate.

One cannot help but see "Our Benign Dictatorship" leap off the page of this open letter in both the diagnose of the "problem" (in their respective times) as well as the prescription for what should be done.

By: Derek Fildebrandt
Posted: February 08, 2010
Topic: Federal

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