Will the federal NDP and Liberals unite/form a coalition?

[August1991]

We need a poll on this question.

Here's a good read on the question. The comments are worth flipping through too:

Inexact language and a shocking lack of constitution are lending momentum to the dangerously flawed idea of a formal coalition between the Liberals and NDP prior to the next election campaign. Sadly, it is the few Liberal advocates of such an alliance who are most at fault.

Indeed, from a Liberal perspective, a pre-campaign coalition of the centre-left is far worse than a bad idea. It is a betrayal of the party’s identity, history and future prospects. Why? Because what’s being proposed is not a true parliamentary coalition. It is a political combination or, more accurately: a merger.

Scott Reid G&M Edited June 5, 2010 by August1991

[Jack Weber]

We need a poll on this question.

Here's a good read on the question. The comments are worth flipping through too:Scott Reid G&M

Does anyone else think this idea had Bob Rae written all over it?

[Bonam]

I think it is extremely unlikely that they will. Frankly, the NDP are in a much stronger position than the liberals, so any coalition would be heavily skewed towards NDP policies, and besides the issue of such a coalition necessarily turning off many of the less left wing voters, I don't think most liberals could stomach it.

[August1991]

Does anyone else think this idea had Bob Rae written all over it?

Bob Rae is a smart guy, and in many ways a precursor of English Canada.

It makes sense that English Canada's Left should unite in some way.

Dunno.

[Jack Weber]

Bob Rae is a smart guy, and in many ways a precursor of English Canada.

It makes sense that English Canada's Left should unite in some way.

Dunno.

The only reason I say it is because Rae talked about folding the NDP into the Liberal party in Ontario back in the '80's...

[Topaz]

I would think that if more Canadians could watch the committee meetings especially the ethnics, they would be outrage with the Tories and would agree with a coalition or get more voters out and vote the Tories out. It was such an outrage to watch Parl. Sec. Pierre, keep asking for "point of order" every time the Chair wanted to go on with the meeting business.. It was all to stall, to use up time of the 2 hour meeting and they did a good job of that. Just like the detainee committee, the Tories are hiding info. from the committees. The kangaroo court, the Tories call this committee, are cause by THEM because its is all about THEM and saving their skins from the truth! So if that`s the only way to get rid of the Tories, so be it!

[Michael Hardner]

With the pullout from Afghanistan set for next year - what are the differentiating policies that remain ?

It seems to me that we're back to peace, order and good government time.

[Bryan]

As a Conservative, I sure hope they do. It'll guarantee CPC majorities for generations to come.

I doubt they would do it though.

[August1991]

As a Conservative, I sure hope they do. It'll guarantee CPC majorities for generations to come.

That's Harper's calculation. But think of what happened to Chretien's Liberals once the English-Canadian Right united.

----

I am more intrigued about the regional effects of a union of the NDP/Liberals. I think this would change voting patterns in both Quebec and the Maritimes.

[punked]

The only reason I say it is because Rae talked about folding the NDP into the Liberal party in Ontario back in the '80's...

You do know the only reason Tommy ran for the leadership of the Federal NDP is because he thought the other guy wanted to just what you are talking about. Tommy later found out he was right when the other guy became a Liberal and then got a Senate appointment. The NDP wont fold into anything.

[Molly]

If the Liberal party folded into the NDP (and make no mistake, that's the direction such a merger would go), then a Liberal party would simply have to be invented to replace it.

The NDP is not centrist, and even though many try to convince us that the CPC is both centrist and conservative, it is neither.

An interesting poll would ask what portion of voters hold their noses to choose.

[William Ashley]

We need a poll on this question.

Here's a good read on the question. The comments are worth flipping through too:Scott Reid G&M

It is called "the opposition".

Ignatieff is the "leader of the opposition" of course he would lead a coalition against the conservatives. This isn't news.

None the less although I do favour "socially liberal policies" that reduce government costs - such as prisons, and other non profit bearing overhead, eg. tough on crime approaches. I'm more the death exile or restitution with probation. The liberals seem to be pandering the "we are in it with america" line for Afghanistan though is something I didn't like seeing.

The integration of a pay to stay plan for doctors is a good move in terms of policy.

While this "coalition talk" is post election. Summer recess is just about due - and it seems highly unlikely that an election would be called 'before' parliament resumes in the fall. So all this talk is way to far off in the distance to really matter.

[madmax]

I see a Coalition in the next government. But not with the NDP. The LPC are in such turmoil and so lost and the arguments here have been persuasive that the LPC are closer to the CPC that I forsee a GRANDCOALITION of the two major parties after the next Minority Parliment is created.

[Remiel]

Anyone who thinks that the Liberal Party would become part of the NDP needs to get their head checked. There may be a coalition (I rather hope so at this point), and the NDP may even wield a lot of influence in it. But never would the institution of the Liberal Party be abandoned to the NDP.

[Remiel]

I see a Coalition in the next government. But not with the NDP. The LPC are in such turmoil and so lost and the arguments here have been persuasive that the LPC are closer to the CPC that I forsee a GRANDCOALITION of the two major parties after the next Minority Parliment is created.

The idea of the Liberals forming a coalition with the scum that currently runs this government turns my stomach.

[wyly]

I see a Coalition in the next government. But not with the NDP. The LPC are in such turmoil and so lost and the arguments here have been persuasive that the LPC are closer to the CPC that I forsee a GRANDCOALITION of the two major parties after the next Minority Parliment is created.

that would confirm what the NDP have been saying for years, there is no difference between the liberals and the conservatives...so no it won't happen...