Clinging to Power

Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government has avoided another possible collapse after agreeing to accept a Conservative party amendment to a key throne speech motion.

This is believed to be the first time in history that a Canadian government has altered the content of its throne speech to accommodate the views of the opposition.
cbc

This is good news for the Tories - who will now be able to campaign on the basis that any success the Liberal might enjoy came as the result of their having adopted the Tory amendment - and very bad news for the Liberals.

There is simply no way that the Grits would have agreed to the amendment if they thought for an isntant they had the votes to defeat it. They don't. Which means, for the moment, they govern at the pleasure of the Bloc and the Tories.

Cracking the whip will provide endless parlimentary fun as the Liberals can, as Duceppe points out, be defeated in committe on a regular basis.

Spring election?? You heard it here first.