Editor's note: This article has been corrected from an earlier version.

I just got back from Australia, which was right smack dab in the middle of the muddle of its first hung parliament in 70 years. An Aussie colleague of mine noted that “we got it right with this election. We weren’t happy with either candidate so we told them through our surgical voting — work together and give us some good government on a few important things for a few years.” Sound familiar?

My friend is not old enough to have had direct experience regarding his optimistic notion that minority governments can routinely respond positively to the electoral message he and all of his fellow mandatory voters sent to the contenders. “These minority situations can work, can’t they?” he asked plaintively. Unequivocally maybe, I responded.

With a polite urge to provide him with some hope, I told him stories of people like Bill Davis, who navigated his way through a few minority challenges and managed to move the yardsticks on a few things. I told him of a recent conversation I had with our 18th premier. What was his secret to 14 years of governing; how did he move from minorities to majority?

“I actually respected the opposition and their leaders. Sure, we had our public moments in the house, but we had pretty good relationships. That’s the secret of minority management,” Davis responded. Part of his magic was always finding that mushy electoral middle, not too hot, not too cold, never encumbered by ideological handcuffs.

Continuing with my Ontario-centric examples, I noted how quickly the perceived move off centre by Frank Miller, Davis’s successor, created an opportunity for concluding the four-decade Tory run by placing David Peterson in a room with Bob Rae.

I explained how they transformed minority numbers into a two-year accord — an understanding between two reasonable folks. Peterson wanted power; Rae wanted to get a few things done — like an end to extra-billing by doctors — and they worked it all out . . . two years of peace and good government. Peterson managed the premiership and governing thing well and, two years hence, the people gave him a majority. Rae didn’t get much credit and I don’t think Peterson sent him a Christmas card.

“But what about your current situation in Canada, how’s she’s working mate?” intoned my Aussie buddy. He had to bring that up! He actually knew we were in the third of three consecutive federal minorities. Oh, the vagaries of the Internet.

All of this brings us to our current minority government prime minister. It would be a stretch of major proportions to compare him favourably with Davis when it comes to the notion of governing for “all of the people” and demonstrated respect for those on “the other side of the aisle.”

Unlike Davis, Stephen Harper’s world view is clearly informed by ideological clarity with its own constructed reality. Our PM has created a fact-free zone in Ottawa, not letting evidence get in the way of his heartfelt ideology. Kyoto? Scrap it! Kelowna? Scrap it! National early learning and child care plan? To the garbage can! Long form census? Who needs to know the truth about us? Long-gun registry? Scrap it and spend billions on jails while the evidence tells us crime is going down and it is clear that upstream investments will further lower crime. Say what?

And let’s not forget his artful use of proroguing. A model of consistency, our PM is. And his not-so-secret weapon in doing all of this during a couple of minority governments is an opposition leader who is not up to the game of politics and uncomfortable in his own political skin. He’s smart, has integrity, but how long does it take to capture the imagination of enough voters to move his party back into contention?

So I said to my Aussie friend, “the balance you hope to get from your hung parliament depends on the character of the players. If the one who gets to don the robe has some character, likes people, respects all of those who represent the various constituency parts of the sum, then a few good things can happen as your minority government unfolds. But if your PM is disdainful of political enemies, hugs only those in their ideological core, the best you can hope for is that the government does no harm.”

Just got an email update from my mate in response, advising that after three weeks of negotiating, Julia Gillard won the favour of three independents, emerging as the winner in a squeaker, 76 to 74, minority parliament. “She seems ready to be the conciliatory leader we need to get a few positive things accomplished, mate,” he observed.

In that regard, he and his fellow citizens would be doing better than us. As we head for the resumption of a new parliamentary session in a few weeks, the hope for a genuine change in tone and approach is slim to none. It is hard to imagine that our next election, whenever called, will yield anything other than another minority.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Perhaps the multiple party leadership contests arising will yield politicians who can lead through relationships and respect for what’s good for all of the people. Davis had it right.

Charles Pascal is a professor at the University of Toronto and a former deputy minister in Ontario.