True Change in a Minority Government

Welcome to Canada, where nobody wants an election, not now, not ever, but the threat of an election never quite goes away.

And when politicians can't manufacture election talk, they talk about the impossibility of accomplishing anything in a minority government. Too much compromise. The PM can't get anything of substance passed.

Americans: This is like saying that a president who's a Republican can't get anything done if the House is controlled by Democrats. You saw how that kept Bush from misdeeds in his last two years. And you can see how well Obama is succeeding with the Democrats also in charge of both the House and the Senate. As in, NOT in both cases.

The difficulty of governing with a minority government didn't stop Lester Pearson in 1960s Canada. Here are four important changes he made in five years, all without a majority behind him.

1. The Auto Pact, an early experiment in "free trade," in which trucks, cars, and auto parts moving between Canada and the U.S. were exempt from duty. It may look less like a great idea given the events of the past two years, but it worked for the previous 40.

2. The Canada Pension Plan, which deducts money from wages to support the elderly. Americans may recognize this: it's the equivalent of Social Security.

3. The Medical Care Act, which extends public healthcare coverage to include physician services. This is a step toward today's public healthcare system. Yes, Canadians have had public healthcare since 1971--and no one has yet started growing horns, tails, or cloven hoofs; pitchfork sales remain low.

4. A suspension of capital punishment. Pearson put capital punishment "temporarily" on hold; under Trudeau in 1976, capital punishment was officially abolished.

Even if you don't agree with the policies these actions put into place, you have to admit it's an impressive list.

So, we agree, it's impossible to effect change in a minority government.

Unless you're a statesman.

Are you listening, Mr. Harper? Hello? Anyone?

P.S. Because I am a serious student of Canadian history, I rely on impeccable sources. In this case, I am indebted to the 2nd edition of Will Ferguson's Canadian History for Dummies (John Wiley and Sons Canada, 2005), where Mr. Harper, Mr. Ignatieff, Mr. Layton, and Mr. Dion can also read about Pearson's minority government achievements. Because they seem to have forgotten their own history.