Federal Election? Not likely to happen this fall.

Few months ago a Liberal blogger (sorry, can't remember which one) suggested that the government better orchestrates another by-election in a strongly Conservative riding, so the Conservatives don't end up losing every single by-election. Now it turns out that Liberals themselves needed that kind of advice.

I doubt any Liberal supporter could find a silver lining in yesterday's by-elections. Outremont has been a Liberal riding for decades (apart for 1988 election). It was expected that with Dion as a leader, Liberals would win back the support of Quebec voters - that didn't happen. There are rumors that Ignatieff supporters sabotaged the by-election and that there could be attempts to overthrow Dion's leadership. Looks like Dion will have to halt the election rhetoric and try to win back the support of his own party first.

The Bloc too, could hardly be called a winner. In fact, yesterday's by-elections place the party in a lose-lose situation. Supporting the Conservatives means supporting their primary rival. Yet if they vote against the throne speech - they may end up with the lowest number of seats ever. Most likely Duceppe is going to choose the lesser of the two evils and work out a compromise with the Conservatives that would allow the Bloc to save face.

So it looks like the new throne speech, outlining new priorities of the Conservative government, will eventually be passed - and the second legislative session of the 39th Parliament will last somewhat longer than it was predicted just weeks ago.