NDP not being taken seriously (en francais)

Wow, even the Toronto Star doesn't buy into the NDP rhetoric these days. Still not much more than a protest party in federal politics.

Being taken seriously is an old NDP dilemma

JAMES TRAVERS

Jack Layton has a problem his NDP predecessors had no more luck solving. Layton, the look-at-me leader of a party no one is looking at, needs to bring down soon a Liberal government he also desperately needs to make work for as long as possible.

That's the NDP dilemma. It's political insanity to let Paul Martin time the coming election to Liberal advantage. But the best and perhaps only way for Layton's party to improve its prospects is to convince voters that minority government is good government.

If nothing else, that helps explain some of this week's political theatre. Attempting to repeat his spring success of wringing from Martin $4.6 billion for NDP priorities, Layton is threatening to end this Parliament unless Liberals stem the rising tide of private health care.

Up to a point, that's good stuff for an earnest party struggling for visibility. In linking his continued support to a policy important to NDP rank-and-file as well as to most Canadians, Layton is maximizing his limited influence.

In a better place, results would be better. Voters would reasonably conclude the real small-l liberal party is the NDP and in the next election would endorse it with more seats and clout.

But this is Ottawa and history suggests the future is about to unfold like the past. Snuggled up close to Liberals, Layton's NDP is in danger of being hugged to death.