Following up on the question of what the NDP can put on the table to encourage the Libs to support it as Canada's government starting on Tuesday, let's note one more option (being discussed as a possibility by some already) which will look more and more plausible as a selling point as the Libs' vote and seat numbers fall.
The result of an election seeing the NDP rise to a strong second place and the Libs drop to a distant third would be to create the perception that Canada's political scene is polarizing into left- and right-wing parties with enough strength to form government, leaving little room for a centrist brokerage party. Which means that as part of their effort to define themselves for the future, the Libs will face the question of whether Canada's current electoral system is conducive to their very existence once they can't rely on strategic voting pitches to win support to their side.
And that looks to be an ideal time for the Libs to revisit electoral reform, making it either a demand of an NDP government or at least a perceived benefit if it's offered.
After all, a party that's being being squeezed out of a polarized FPTP system would surely see plenty to like in a PR system which places them around the median of any conceivable Parliament - allowing for a better prospect of carving out a substantial amount of space at the centre of the political spectrum, and likely ensuring that they'll both hold at least the types of seats that stay in their hands by Tuesday, and earn the opportunity to participate in governments for the foreseeable future.
As always, there figures to be some pushback from some who enjoy the possibility of winning 38% majorities in an ever-more-distant future. But for the Libs' remaining MPs and supporters alike, now may be the absolute best time to consider putting the party's frequent musings about PR into effect - as much for their own benefit as for that of Canada's democracy.
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