Cooperative efforts

For those wondering how long it would take the opposition parties to start cooperating to force the Cons' hand on progressive issues, it appears that Kyoto has become the first major unifying issue:

The three opposition parties will join forces today to pass a motion aimed at embarrassing the Conservatives over their position on the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

The Liberals and the New Democras intend to support a Bloc Québécois motion calling on the government to have a plan in place by Oct. 15 for Canada to meet its international targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases.

It remains to be seen whether it'll be possible to pass substantive legislation the same way, whether that be with regard to child care or amendments to the Accountability Act. But at the very least, the Cons must now be on notice that they're not about to receive a free ride in Parliament...which should hopefully encourage Harper and company to reconsider just how many regressive changes they want to try to force through.