And so last the final act of this roller-coaster of an election was engraved forever in Canadian political history. Like throughout the entire length of the election it's final act always was a "shaking" of the established ideas that once made Canada such a "stable" (in terms of politics at least) nation.
First of all it seems that it's the end, maybe even death of a "Liberal Nation", for decades the Liberal Party of Canada was at the heart of Canadian politics it fashioned Canada into it's image. To really catch the grasp of this historic "meltdown" of the Liberal Party we have to take a glimpse back into history. From 1896 and the election of Wilfrid Laurier to the defeat of Paul Martin and the rise of Mr. Harper in 2006, the Liberal Party hold power between it's hands. It ruled Canada with an iron authority, only one country in the world with a multiparty system can say the same (Mexico with the rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party). And yet yesterday as Micheal Ignatieff took front stage it seemed that some political tectonic plate had shifted in the Canadian political landscape. The shift had for effect an earthquake and the Liberal Party of Canada collapsed. Many things may be said about this campaign and how "inefficient" Mr. Ignatieff was, but do not be fooled the problem is much more deeper then mere logistic problems. No it's a crisis inside the Liberal Party, probably inside it's owns basis perception of their ideals. The lesson all Canadians have to take out of this debacle is that a weak Liberal Party is unhealthy for the Canadian left.
It's unhealthy as of yesterday night because the collapse of Liberal Canada allowed the unwanted ascension of Conservative Canada. Harper did certainly win a majority yesterday night and that was the bitter side of the election results, I know from my point of view the catastrophic side of the events, but remember the conservatives won a relative majority not an absolute one. Many pundits came out during the night and early morning stating that it was a crushing victory for the Conservatives and the Conservative agenda, but it wasn't. Harper won 40% of the national vote 10% shy of the 50% by my calculus the majority mark. On the other hand the Liberal/New Democratic vote combined is over that "dotted line". So the lesson is yes it was catastrophic that the Conservatives gained a majority on the hill, a majority that will allow them to turn Canada more and more away form it's fundamental values. But the only ones we have to beat-up around here is ourselves. If the talk of coalition had not been taboo, if instead of a picking a fight against each other the Liberals and NDPs had decided work out an agenda of "circumstances" with the idea that the main threat was a Harper majority. But then again it's all idealism because in the end it's all about political gain, or is it?
So middle way through the night Layton appeared. Confident and smiling as always crowned with the biggest victory in the history of his party and as leader of the official opposition. But Layton had a lot more to smile about first of all I think we can all no mater what our political orientations are that Layton's campaign was morally speaking the cleanest in the race. Layton did things his way, instead of giving into the politics of division and fear Layton offered a renewed hope in the political system, engaged hundreds of new voters and gave an asthmatic democracy a new breath, maybe even new lungs (only time will tell). But probably the most important thing Layton did through his campaign was that he gave Quebec a voice in federal affairs and in doing so for first time in decades showed Canada that unity can still be achieved and that Quebec is still no matter what part of Canada.
Yesterday night was also the death of the Bloc and what a death going form the mid-40's in the number of MP's to barely 4 it was the end of "souverainiste" Quebec. It was the end of an ere, almost like the end of war that started in the late 1960's and that continued on to today. No province made a stronger statement yesterday evening, Quebec with one unified and symphonic voice reengaged itself with Canadian politics and decided to be the new propulsion of change in Canada, Dieu Merci! So when Duceppe said what before would be seen by the rest of Canada as a horrible threat to nation unity "And we will not stop until Quebec becomes a (independent) country" it was just some bickering of an old man that forgot to jump on the "reality" train. What an amazing weekend during the night of Sunday we assisted to Bin Laden's death with all of it's consequences and it's meanings (there will be an up coming post on that subject) and on Monday night we assisted to death of the Bloc, let's just hope that it stays were it should be forever that's means in it's grave.
So yes without any doubts yesterday's election was a breakthrough in Canadian politics a "watersheder" and for sure this pivotal election will be remembered as a turning point in Canadian political history and the power behind such change (we have to stop fooling ourselves with the talk of the Conservative tide-wave) it was the meteoric ascension of the NDP who changed the face of Canadian politics as we knew it. So Harper beware for you might have left us a bitter taste in our mouths emphasizing the division between Liberals and NDP to gain a majority but beware because in doing so you have given the Canadian left the greatest opportunity in decades if not history to unite and re-enhance a "Liberal (as in the left leaning sense) Nation". So I guess it's a bittersweet taste indeed but a bit more sweeter then bitter, the game is on now to make it all about sweetness.
Sky
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