For five years the Conservatives have led the Canadian government as senior partners in a coalition government. Now with a majority, the Conservatives can enact their program without consulting coalition partners on the left.
The win reflects a strengthening of what began as a western movement, now making serious eastward inroads in southern Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. The greatly weakened Liberal party, which dominated Canadian politics for many years, is considering merging with the growing New Democratic Party, to its left.
Canada is experiencing the same hollowing out of the political middle we have experienced in the U.S., as our Democrats and Republicans became more distinct.
