NDP to work with Tories

Jack Layton has recently announced that the NDP is willing to work with the Conservative government on an issue-by-issue basis, but suggests that his party is not a political ally for the Tory government, stating "It would be pretty hard to see how that could happen, and we have no inclination to do that."

Much like the New Democrats did with the former Liberal government, Layton hopes that he is able to "convince" the Tories to pass progressive legislation. It is widely expected that the NDP and the Conservatives will work together on environmental legislation.

The alliance became possible after Liberal MP Wajid Khan crossed the floor late last week to join the Tories, giving them 125 seats. Combined with the 29 New Democrat seats, the total for any sort of 'alliance' would be 154, which gives the two-party alliance a majority in the House of 308 (minus one for the speaker).

It seems that yet again, Jack Layton has the potential to play king maker. In his last pact with the Liberals, he prevented yet another round of corporate tax cuts, as well as secured more funding for transit and affordable housing. Let's see what he is able to do this time around.

Yet, I have to question any allaince between a neo-conservative party and a social-democratic party. The Liberals have consistantly been able to appeal to the soft-left, all the while being a centre-right party. The Tories, who no one debates are on the right wing, may be less willing to make progressive concessions in economics and social spending. Let's hope that Layton doesn't give up too much in his quest for power. An environmental accord is likely, but I don't know what else these parties can do together.

I suspect Layton and Harper reache an improved environmental accord, Layton waits for an election, and campaigns on a platform of environmentalism, hailing the NDP as the party responsible for that environmental accord. This would likely bring some Green voters (back) to the NDP. We'll have to see how this one plays out.