Although on the opposite side of the political scale, the NDP and its Leader Jack Layton should be given due credit for their wins and gains. Jack Layton will make a tough opposition leader in the house and certainly do his best to keep the PC’s on their toes. That is his job as opposition leader.

The PC’s should not take their majority for granted as Canadians will be watching them closely for the next four years. At the end of the four years they had better show results.

Canadians voters have a long memory and have fired governments (Federal or Provincial) if they are not satified with their performance. Unlike in the US system, which to us seems to be in perpetual election mode, (no criticism intended) once an election is called we only need 40 days to decide whether to “rehire” or “fire” the Prime Minister and his party.

Some provincial parties have been sent to oblivian for non-performance: Ask the Social Credit party in British Columbia under Premier Vander-Zalm or the NDP under Premier Bob Rae (now a federal liberal) in Ontario.

PM Mulroney (PC), PM Cretian (LIB), PM Martin (LIB) all felt the Canadian voters rath in their time and paid the price. The PC party under MULRONEY was nearly decimated by the Liberals. Now “Iggy” and his Liberals have been decimated by the NDP and PC parties in this election. The Bloq Quebqious (Pro- Seperatism Party) under Gille Ducieppe was beated so bad by the NDP in Quebec (unheard of in Candian history) it no longer has party status in Parliment.

There are lessons to be learned from this election by both the victors and the vanquished.

Our system my be strange to most Americans but it work for us.