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Former NDP Leader Jack Layton used to argue that his party, even though they’d never formed power, had accomplished a great deal for Canadians over the decades by this very method.

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That’s not what Singh meant though. He was saying – in words that he’s now partially walked back – that if the Conservatives under Andrew Scheer win the most seats but not a majority – what we’ve come to think of as winning a minority government – he would join with Trudeau to block Scheer from forming government.

Is this a thing? Can it even be done? The short answer is yes.

Guy Giorno, a former chief of staff to Stephen Harper and partner at Fasken, breaks down possible outcomes at his firm’s website, explaining that “contrary to popular belief, an incumbent prime minister does not need to resign just because another party obtains a plurality of seats in the House. A prime minister whose party is reduced to second place retains the right to meet the House and present an agenda.”

So the first offer to form government doesn’t automatically go to the party that gets the most seats. Rather, if Trudeau comes second, he still has the option to find a way to stay in power if he so chooses.

Does this then mean that Trudeau is automatically justified in forging a coalition with Singh to stay in power and keep Scheer out? Nope. Not so fast.

As kids, most of us were told just because you can do something, it doesn’t mean you should. Trudeau may be in such a situation.

Yan Campagnolo, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa, notes in an interview with the Sun that the Governor-General, who oversees changes of government, would likely be advised that “the incumbent Prime Minister has the right to meet the House of Commons in order to determine if he can obtain its confidence and remain in power.”