In Support of a Canadian Coalition Government

Your Excellency,

We, the undersigned are in support of the coalition agreement reached by the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party of Canada, and supported by the Bloc Québecois.

Primarily, we strongly believe that a temporary and time-limited government formed by the Liberal Party and the NDP with the support of the BQ, united in a spirit of collaboration and compromise is clearly more appropriate to and reflective of the majority of Canadians' wishes for our pluralistic and democratic society. While the Conservative Party won more seats than any other single party in the recent federal election, their seeming disregard for the collaborative nature of a minority parliament, especially in the current climate of financial uncertainty has lost them the confidence of the House of Commons and the majority of our elected representatives. In addition, it is unsettling to hear our current Prime Minister expressing such sudden and forceful denunciation of the Bloc Québecois, a political party that represents millions of Canadian citizens, that he has negotiated with and accepted as legitimate for many years, at a time when support for the separation of Québec is very low and the potential for a strong and distinct Québec within a united Canada is already being realized to the benefit of us all.

It is our belief that since a clear majority of Canadian voters (over 61%) cast their ballots for our country's progressive political parties in support of their environmentally conscious, socially progressive and economically responsible policies, that under the current set of circumstances, the proposed coalition government deserves your approval and the honour of forming the next government of Canada.

Regardless of analysis however, the facts are clear: the majority of our democratically elected Members of Parliament has lost confidence in the current government and is in agreement on putting a coalition government in its place.

In addition, we are extremely troubled by the current government's attempts at misleading the public with regard to the legitimacy and validity of a coalition government in this situation. We believe that this type of deliberate spreading of misinformation typifies the current Conservative Party leadership, and is indicative of precisely the self-serving and manipulative behaviour that has solidified the opposition parties' resolve in this matter. We believe this dishonest and unethical political style drives Canadians apart, further lowers the standards of the Canadian House of Parliament, and taints the proud history of Canadian politics, including the proud history of the Conservative and Progressive Conservative movements of our great country.

Those who understand the Parliamentary system, including current Conservative MPs, know that the possibility of a coalition government replacing a minority government is an extremely important component of our democratic system, and that it's existence, though very rarely brought into use, is a fundamental tool available to keep those that lead a minority government from abusing their power and pushing forward a programme that a majority of elected MPs do not feel is in the best interests of the country.

Finally, we are concerned that in the Conservative Party's reckless choice of attempting to incite anger towards the opposition, rather than offering constructive and inclusive solutions to the problems we face as a country, the loud voices of a minority of Canadians who are willing to accept that type of politics will drown out the silent majority of Canadians who support the proposed coalition and who are eager to see a new and revolutionary phase of Canadian politics take shape.

It is for this reason that we the undersigned have put our names to this statement, in the hope that reason, intelligence, and close consideration of the best interests of Canadians prevail in the current political circumstances - and in all circumstances to come. We put our names to this statement in respect for a political system that while not perfect, is the result of centuries of human progress, and of generations of refinement by some of our country's finest citizens over the course of Canadian history, for the preservation of freedoms that the ancestors of our ancestors only dreamed of enjoying, and which we fear many of us have come to take for granted.

With respect and admiration,