Where were we?

A coalition government was last a tangible possibility some 21 months ago.

In early December 2008, with the drama at its peak, polls showed Conservative party support surging and mixed (at best) numbers for the coalition. On December 4, the day Mr. Harper’s request for prorogation was accepted, Leger claimed 43% of Canadians preferred another election, while 40% preferred letting the coalition govern. According to Ekos, 37% were in favour of prorogation, 28% favoured a coalition and 19% preferred an election.

A week later, Michael Ignatieff was leader of the Liberal party. A little less than a month after that Nanos polled Canadians and found 42% of Canadians preferred a coalition government if the Conservative budget was defeated, 49% preferred an election. A week after that, Ekos asked Canadians to choose between a Liberal-NDP coalition government or a Conservative government. The result: 50% for the coalition, 43% for the government. At the same, asked if the governor general should call an election or ask the Liberal leader to form government in the event the Conservative government fell, the numbers flipped: 49% said an election should be called, 45% said the Liberal leader should be asked to form government.

A week after that poll was released, Mr. Ignatieff accepted the Conservative budget and the drama was essentially done.