An opposing perspective

After making his way onto the Canadian political arena and soon after landing the role of Liberal party leader, Michael Ignatieff must have felt pretty good as Opposition Leader.

But not content. Late last year, the somewhat unsteady Liberals struck a deal with the NDP and Bloc Quebecois to form an alliance that could have potentially overthrown the Conservatives and formed a coalition government.

Of course, the Prime Minister was not one to back down from a challenge, and he convinced the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until the new year.

That cast off some steam from the would-be coalition government, and by the time Parliament re-opened last month, the Liberal-NDP-Bloc alliance seemed less inclined to topple the Conservative government.

Then the government tabled their budget for 2009, amid turmoil in the world economy. And instead of being able to smite the Conservatives economic plan, Mr. Ignatieff must have felt some pressure to play along to keep the peace in Ottawa and not force Canadians back to the polls.

But it got worse. He had to face a couple of defiant MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador that seemed hell-bent on voting down the budget.

A clause in the budget that would roll back more than $1.5 billion from the provinces coffers from the Atlantic Accord set off not only Liberal MPs, but the also one of the most outspoken politicians in the country Premier Danny Williams.

As Premier Williams waged a public outcry against the federal budget, even more Liberal MPs from the province took up the cause and ultimately Mr. Ignatieff had to contend with Newfoundland and Labrador MPs who would not commit to voting for the budget with their fellow Liberals.

Mr. Ignatieff was stuck, yet again. He couldnt risk alienating up to six MPs in an already shaky Liberal party. And he didnt want to seem like he was buckling under the pressure of an outspoken premier. He had little choice but to give permission to the six MPs to make a one-time symbolic gesture to the Prime Minister and the Conservative budget.

While this move might have calmed the waters amongst the Liberal ranks (and with Premier Williams) for the time being, one can only wonder what long-term effects this will have for the party and Mr. Ignatieffs role as leader.

Mr. Ignatieff needs the outward support of the entire Liberal party. This means he wont be keen on letting MPs vote against party lines in another Parliamentary vote. But he also risks losing MP and party support if some piece of proposed legislation doesnt benefit everybody (even though hes already set a precedent to the contrary with the Newfoundland and Labrador MPs).

Maybe its not so good to be Opposition Leader, after all.

Christopher Vaughan