Today Canada's Conservative government survived another vote of confidence. A few weeks ago the government laid out three possible election triggers: extending the mission in Afghanistan, passing the Tackling Violent Crime Act though the Liberal controlled Senate by March 1st, and accepting the federal budget. Well, the Liberals have backed down on all three measures, resulting in their mocking even by the state-funded CBC. So despite being 30 MPs short of a majority (in a House of only 308) the Conservative government looks like it might make it until the fixed election date in October 2009.
What is really amazing is the way that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has put the Liberal opposition on the defensive continually for two years. The Liberals don't want an election right now, as their leader is unpopular and they are organisationally unprepared. So the Conservative government just keeps on pushing and the opposition keeps on backing down. Canada is getting good Conservative government all thanks to an opposition too scared to face the people, for now anyway. Who knows though, they may change their minds, grow a spine and take us down.
