Brilliant report alert!

This report on minority parliaments from the UK's Institute for Government should be required reading  for Canadian politicians (along with U of T prof Peter Russell's book, Two Cheers for Minority Government, which picks up a lot of the same themes).

Chapter 3, “Canada’s Dysfunctional Minority Parliament,” is particularly relevant, methinks.

After noting the obvious - "Recent events also illustrate that many Canadians do not understand the basic rules of parliamentary democracy" - it goes on to say this:

For minority government to work in Canada there needs to be a dramatic shift in political
culture which emphasises cooperation and accommodation rather than conflict and
partisanship. PMs leading minority governments should act with humility, and recognise
that they do not have a mandate to force their agendas through Parliament. The media has
a responsibility to report on the accomplishments of minority governments as well as their
failures. Past experience suggests that minority government can be successful in Canada.
However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the political actors to find ways to make it
work. 

Sound likely with the current bunch? I don't think so either, but no one can say the solution doesn't exist, and the current bunch won't be current forever.

Pomopoli can't happen without that "dramatic shift in political culture." Cooperation and humility are the key to good government, be it a minority or a majority.  Let's hope the culture shift comes sooner than later.