How did coalition become a dirty word in Canadian politics? Since last winter's failed attempt, Tory ministers have used it as their default term of derision in Question Period. Er, no deficit, um, sound fundamentals, ah, lost files, sexy something ... Aha -- COALITION. This week, the Bloc Québécois and New Democrats adopted the usage, mocking the Liberal-Conservative, yuck, coalition.

It wouldn't have exactly brought the Canadian Establishment to its knees. But late last fall, the Liberal-NDP coalition did briefly seem poised to become the most progressive Canadian government in a generation, possibly ever.

Then before you could say "corporate welfare bums," it was all over. The Conservatives had mounted a hysterical campaign, the media had joined in trashing the coalition, and the Governor General had shown it no more mercy than she would a tasty seal.

By the end of January, the Liberals, now with Michael Ignatieff in charge, had come full circle, voting in support of the Conservative budget. Having briefly dallied with the NDP, the Liberals had returned to the corporate fold.

In order to pass laws, any minority government needs a parliamentary majority. Thus, whenever a parliament convenes without one party holding a clear majority, no prime minister can continue to hold power without creating a formal, or (less often) informal coalition. The exercise of executive power by the prime minister requires support by a majority of legislators.

In 80 per cent of cases around the world the link between executive and legislative power is created through coalitions of parties (mainly following elections using some type of proportional representation). Coalition governments have not been part of usual Canadian parliamentary practice.

Let's pray Tuesday (January 27) doesn't ruin the inauguration glow. That's when our government introduces its budget. Just days after Barack Obama is sworn in, Canada is bizarrely headed for one of the most unprecedented moments in our own political history.

I think one word sums up this phenomenon: "opportunity."

But first, let's acknowledge that this continental syncopation is TV-worthy stuff. We had parallel elections, even to the point of duelling television debates. Now, after Obama has promised to usher in a new age, we are at the crossroads.