Tonight, tomorrow in Canada.

There is much to be said for what happened in Canada today. I am more interested in what should happen tomorrow.

Quickly addressing tonight:

Paul Martin cannot be blamed for the fiasco that was the sponsorship program. He cleaned it up when he learned about it and quickly called for the Gomery investigation, which has effectively cost him his job as Prime Minister. Nevertheless, someone had to be held accountable, and, sure enough, Paul Martin has paid dearly for others’ mistakes.

Several people (who called themselves Liberals) were deeply involved in the sponsorship program, but the party should not be a scapegoat for those people.

Gilles Duceppe felt he could advance his own interests at the expense of Paul Martin. Paul Martin certainly has lost quite a bit, but the leader of the Bloc Québécois lost his pants tonight.

Now to tomorrow: The New Liberal Coalition for Canada

I sincerely hope a few Members of Parliament will take note of the options available to the Governor General when a government fails, and recognise that: somewhere just north of one hundred Liberals, each and every single New Democrat, and somewhere around two dozen members of Bloc Québécois could well accomplish much when they realise:

• Issues that are important to moderate and liberal Canadians can better be advocated and achieved with a majority government.

• Concerns that are important to Quebecers, regardless of their primary language, can better be advocated and achieved with a majority government.
• Such a majority government could be formed within weeks.

It would be quite a shock for the presumed Prime Minister, and headline news across Canada, but it is one way that the Canadian system is expected, and, in fact, designed, to work.

Some would say the least likely members of this new coalition would be the two dozen or so Members of Parliament from the Bloc. I imagine the question has to be whether or not they can continue to place the economic and social advancement of Québec on the back burner, second to the issue of sovereignty. As members of a new Liberal coalition, they can fight for the causes of Quebecers within Confederation, and allow the issue of sovereignty to be advocated not at the expense of Quebec.

I have to admit, it is unlikely so many Members of Parliament, of any party, could come abandon such strict party rigidity. But unless Canadians want to have another election in eighteen months, I have to hope some sense comes to Ottawa, and soon.

And, by the way, Belinda Stronach will be the second woman Prime Minister of Canada. Before she turns fifty. (Update at 2115 PST, at the time of Paul Martin’s effective resignation as party leader: Before she turns forty-five.)