The byelection tidings tend to support a view put forward by Brock University political scientist Garth Stevenson: There will not be a majority government until one of the parties finds a leader who can turn people on, as [Brian] Mulroney, [Pierre Elliott] Trudeau or [John] Diefenbaker did in their time. (The party was not available to comment.) As for New Democrats, University of Victoria political scientist Reg Whitaker observes that last week's returns suggest leader Jack Layton's strategy of focusing his strongest parliamentary attacks on the Liberals isn't productive for the NDP.

Political alliances