Word to the wise: avoid coalitions

To the Editor:

The events of the past few days in Ottawa have stirred an interest in politics, democracy and Canada (or the break-up of) that we have not seen for some time.

The catalyst for creating an alternative coalition to the minority Conservative government was originally suggested to be the proposed cutting of political subsidies to the four Federal parties, and the Bloc Quebecois.

However, we have since learned NDP leader Jack Layton was busy orchestrating a NDP-Liberal-separatist alternative well before the fiscal update cutting these subsidies was given by the Finance Minister.

The Liberals were the last to enter Mr. Layton's fold, driven by the threat of losing their subsidy and their current difficulties in fundraising. This was clearly articulated by Liberal leadership contender Bob Rae immediately after the Minister of Finance's announcement.

There is no question this would have been difficult for all parties, especially the Liberals and Bloc Quebecois. However, I believe the panicked decision by the Liberal Party to join Mr. Layton's coalition with a regional separatist party showed poor judgment.

Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe has been forthright about his motives for joining the coalition, which are to further enhance short-term fiscal gains for Quebec and work toward the long-term break-up of Canada.

The Liberal Party under Stephane Dion should have understood this and the consequences of their decision.

I do acknowledge several prominent Liberals have been more than reticent about the NDP-Bloc coalition, including their new leader Michael Ignatieff. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Dion's emotional response was apparently shared by the majority of the Liberal caucus. This includes my own MP Scott Brison, who was quick to champion this rather questionable arrangement with the Bloc. I regret he, as my representative, did not show the same judgment as Mr. Ignatieff and some of his politically wiser Liberal colleagues.

The motivations for this coalition are fluid and vary between the member parties, but one common NDP-Liberal thread (under Layton and Dion) was clearly the desire for power. As an elected person serving the people in a Cabinet portfolio for almost eight years, I suggest power for the sake of power is a poor motive for doing anything.

The acknowledged political damage done to the size of Premier Jean Charest's majority in Quebec's Dec. 8 general election should be reason enough for all Federal parties to avoid coalitions that assist in the separatist cause.

Sincerely,

David Morse, New Minas