Liberals and NDP should merge (en francais)

An interesting piece in today's Globe and Mail (H/T to Jack's Newswatch). Given the current state of the Liberal's leadership woes, this might not be a bad option for them to persue. Most likely though, the Liberals would need to lose another election and the NDP lose some seats before either would even contemplate this option. Is Canada ready for a two party system?

Liberals and NDP should be courting
The Liberals and NDP should start courting. What worked for the right could work for the left, historian says.

By KEN DEWAR

Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Posted at 2:15 AM EST

Special to Globe and Mail Update

It's time for a realignment on the Canadian political left.

After the breakup of the old Progressive Conservative Party in the aftermath of the Meech Lake accord, neo-conservatives based primarily in Alberta, and first led by Preston Manning, have succeeded in reconstituting the party in its present Conservative form. Try as many might like to downplay the significance of this, by calling attention to the party's failures in big-city Canada, or by finding hope in the inevitable moderating force of power, as distinct from opposition, the victory of an ideologically right-wing Conservative party is the great fact of national politics today. Meanwhile, there is fragmentation elsewhere on the political spectrum.

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Professor Dewar also makes some interesting counter points to the call for PR.