More results in the making

It looks like at least one part of the NDP's democratic-reform platform (albeit one which was also part of the Cons' platform) may soon become law:

The Conservative government is canvassing the opposition parties to see whether they would support fixed dates for federal elections, The Globe and Mail has learned...

The Conservatives promised during the election campaign to introduce legislation modelled on B.C. and Ontario laws that require fixed election dates every four years. The pledge was made to address criticism that former Liberal prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin called early elections when they thought they could win...

The government's intention to pursue the issue may be an attempt to secure good relations with the NDP before the Tories bring down their first budget on Tuesday.

The NDP also campaigned on fixed election dates and Mr. Nicholson's overtures come amid reports that the Tories will announce more than $3-billion in spending through Bill C-48, the NDP amendment to last year's Liberal budget.

Now, there's still plenty not to like about the Cons' actions in government. And even within the democratic-reform file (and the NDP's ethics package), the fixed election dates issue is a relatively small one...which should hopefully be accompanied by at least some talk of first steps toward PR.

But at the very least, some concrete results may soon be on their way. The question now is whether the reports (which one can presume haven't become public by accident) represent only a starting point for negotiations, or the Cons' total willingness to listen to the NDP.