To the editor:
Many Canadians are appalled by what is going on in Ottawa. In times of national stress one of the most important roles of a leader is to give hope to people he or she is suppose to be serving. Leaders of the major economic powers, except Prime Minister Harper, are giving people reason for hope. The message of the incoming President of the United States of American is one of hope.

The Canadian economy is in better shape than that of most other countries. That can be credited to Canadian business, to Canadian workers, to better regulation of our banking system and the sound money management of Canadian governments over the last decade. But we have to be mindful that we are an exporting nation and if economies in other countries fail, ours will suffer. Many Canadians are suffering now. Forestry workers in BC and other parts of Canada have seen their industry devastated and jobs lost. The manufacturing sector is in trouble. The auto and auto parts sectors are seeing layoffs and plant closures. Major investment decisions for oil sands development have been cancelled. Retailers are holding inventory and sales projections are uncertain. Workers are devastated by job losses, pensioners are or will experience the disappearance of pension money and nest eggs. All Canadians need reassurance from their government that everything possible is being done.

Now is the time for Prime Minister Harper to take action. The Government of Canada has done little to give Canadians hope. All MPs were elected to look after the interests of Canadians. Mr. Harper and his colleagues have chosen to sit back, taking a wait and see attitude. It appears, at this time, that more than half of the MPs elected during the last election do not see this as the correct path to take (yes, the Conservative Party does not have a majority, does not have the confidence of most Canadians). The job of non-Conservative MPs is to hold the government accountable and speak for more than half (the majority) of the voting public to get some action from the Government of Canada - they are doing their job.

There is great excitement in Ottawa. This is the second time in less than 5 years that we have seen similar scenarios played out.

A couple of years ago, then Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Harper talked to Mr. Layton and Mr. Duceppe to topple the Martin government.

This year the Liberal Party, the NDP and the Bloc have had the same discussions with respect to a lack of confidence in the Harper Conservative government.

A couple of years ago, when the house lost confidence in the Martin government Mr. Harper wrote to the Governor General and asked that the reins of power be turned over to him rather than subjecting the people to an election.

This year the coalition group plans to do the same.

But this time Mr. Harper thinks that the same thing he advocated a few years ago is undemocratic.

A couple of years ago Mr. Harper depended on the Bloc to prop up his new government.

The coalition government, if it comes about, will have the support of the Bloc with a commitment for support on money matters.

The lesson that can be learned here is that if you want to get the job done in a minority government, policies have to be put forward that a majority of members can live with. Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Martin understood this. Prime Minister Clark, almost 30 years ago did not. The first two survived, Mr. Clarke did not. Leaders have to reach out like Obama is doing, and like Trudeau and Martin did when in minority.

Events in Ottawa of the last few days have been exciting. Contrary to what many believe this is our democracy, given the circumstances, working at its finest. The checks and balances are working the way they should. The end of this story is still unknown but we need not worry, no matter who we voted for, about the future of the democratic process in Canada. No matter what happens democracy will prevail. Those we elect are ultimately accountable to the people.

Terry Foster - Kelowna