I think the biggest mistake the Harper government did was the economic update released last week by Flaherty. After much talk about the House getting along after some unfruitful final months of the previous Parliamentary session, coupled with the fact that the Liberals received an even greater blow with the results of October's election, the Conservatives believed the time was ripe to offer an economic report that was dubious in quality at best.
The belief was that the opposition parties were in no position to argue against it. Well, that backfired somewhat. I think the gray area exists in that the Conservative party won more ridings than any other party last month. Granted, combined together, the Liberals, New Democrats and the Bloc do have a majority of the seats in the House, but that wasn't what the electorate asked for on October 14th. It asked for a Conservative minority parliament. Keeping that mind, the fact that Canadians aren't used to a coalition government that doesn't involve the party that technically won the previous election is making people uneasy. I suspect that's why there are cries of this strategy being 'undemocratic.' In addition to that still, there is no precedent in Canada involving a Prime Minister asking the Governor General to prorogue a Parliamentary session. This can, and is, appearing as all bit much for the public.
Technicalities and public misguidance aside, in a sense your right frosty. With the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc united (which sounds so terribly strange. That's just me mind you) they do have the majority of seats. Seen that way, it appears a perfectly democratic strategy to follow. I think the real debate lies in the two more pressing trains of thought this week: a overzealous governing party that won an election as ordained by the rules, or a coalition formed by three parties that, together, do have the support of most voters, but none of which won the election.
It's a fascinating debate and I can't wait to see how all this plays out. I'll be glued to the CBC/Radio-Canada all week to be sure.