Reply #8: In Canada [View All]

[ninty]

The minority government has been kept in check by the oposition parties on issues like Koyoto, but recently there is real talk of an election.

It started with koyoto, the opposition saying they wouldn't pass the bill and essentially collapse the government, the liberals conceded on some issues, but now the gomrey inquiry is really heating up and there has been talk of an election for a couple weeks now. The liberals say their going to see how things would work out, but I can tell you now, holding an election now would be bad for the liberals. They'd lose a lot of seats in Quebec. I wouldn't be suprised if every riding in Quebec voted Bloc.

Pertaining to your specific question though, if the government doesn't run into any scandals, yes a minority government can work pretty well. You need a good opposition though. If the only opposition in Canada were the conservatives then the liberals would probably have to become less liberal and more conservative for fear of the government collapsing. The Bloc and NDP sort of balance this out .

I'm not sure of the situation over in Britain, but as long as there is pressure from either side, then the government has to try to please everyone, and thus it becomes more accountable.