Remember when the Liberals, NDP, and the Bloc Quebecois offered an idea in coalition against Harper during the recession of 2008. The Liberals were the ones to back out.
If the Conservative Party keeps being antoganistic, partisan, tone deaf..... I would not be surprised entirely if this crisis continues Trudeau himself might actually look for a stable government somehow. It would be the responsible choice in some way. Unlike then, we need a coherent government leading, which I do actually feel he is leading in context. Not many leaders have faced this kind of crisis, a meltdown of the financial structure of our society is different than our collective health creating that downfall.
I'm sure, the NDP, the Bloc actually showing many shared values could stop an impasse that Scheer wants to create, even though he is on his way out. If the Conservative Party had smarts they would dismiss him and appoint an interim leader until they can select another leader... Alas, the tone deaf one wants MPs travelling, subjecting people 'hey you can sit beside my family; I trust them'. (paraphrase of what happened) That's not how viruses work. They are a little more relentless.
Now might be the time to float the idea of a government in accord; which I feel would hold the Liberals more accountable than political grandstanding by an outgoing leader who didn't complete his college program in accounting.. It's attention seeking; obvious and callous.
The Conservatives cannot cause an impasse by themselves.
Why not?
They can create an impase on any parliamentary process that requires unanimous consent. This comes up when changes are being sought to speed up things or bypass rules to make unusual things possible in an emergency. Where most of the House wants to achieve something and one member does not agree an impasse can result where the majority is frustrated. There are good reasons for this as a majority in the House should not be able to use process to remove rights of a minority. However, in times of emergency this allows a minority a great deal of power. This is in fact the power the NDP had to demand more at moments in this crisis. I ahve argued they ahve not used it well. This is not dissimilar to the legal process of things possible on consent that would otherwise be impossible.
https://www.ourcommons.ca/MarleauMontpetit/DocumentViewer.aspx?DocId=1001&Language=E&Sec=Ch12&Seq=6
Am I completely off base in thinking that Scheer hasn't quite given up on getting into power, and thinks he might still be able to force an election before the Con leadership vote is held?
It's possible, but more likely he's paving the way for the next leader on the advice of those in the party.
The Conservatives don't have the votes by themselves to bring down the government. The best they can do is delay votes and impede progress on issues the other parties agree on. I can't think of any issue that at this point in time would garner the required votes for a non-confidence vote.
The field is very not very deep so maybe the strategy is too make any new leader appear better in comparison. Even that asshole Ford is sounding like a red Tory these days, so who knows how the leadership race is going to go.
Again -- much of the process of parliament given social distancing is being managed on consent. It is difficult to proceed without consent in this context. Delays are meanginful now.
The unaminous consent questions do not extend to policy of course and the Conservatives have no power on their own to force anything. But they can do a lot of damage to any process proposals designed to make parliament work in this emergency.