On minority rule

CanWest reported earlier today that both the NDP and the Libs have called Harper's bluff on a public appointments commission, and plan to vote to keep that commission in the Accountability Act.

Sadly, the Bloc doesn't appear to be onside, which should allow the Cons to pull the language from the statute (along with utterly cementing the Bloc's lack of interest in an effective and accountable federal government). But if the Bloc can be persuaded to work with the other opposition parties, a successful move to keep the provision in would put the Cons in a severe bind.

Would the Cons try to ignore the current bill and introduce a new act in order to avoid a vote to keep the current language? Would they torpedo the entire Accountability Act as a response to the opposition's attempt to pass this part of the legislation as the Cons originally wrote it? Or would Harper admit that Gwyn Morgan isn't the sole Canadian capable of heading up the commission, and put up a new nomination which at least one of the opposition parties could live with?

We may never know the answers. But it's not hard to see how much more interesting the current Parliament would be if we did get to find out.