Elizabeth May has declared that the Green Party will sit out a Labrador byelection and is calling for the NDP to do the same in order to help Liberal candidate Todd Russell, who lost to the departing Pena Penashue of the Conservatives by 79 votes in 2011.

Liberal leadership hopeful Joyce Murray is taking credit for the call to cooperation, and if successful could raise her profile in a leadership race that most expect Justin Trudeau to win based on his expert haircut and accomplished last name.  Murray has been the only candidate to endorse proportional representation, despite the fact that the Liberals use instant run-off voting to elect their own leader.  The Green Party and the NDP platforms both support proportional representation.

Should the gambit work, it could demonstrate the efficacy of tripartisan efforts and create a germ of hope for electoral reform in Canada.  Alternatively, Canadians can keep allowing for a minority of voters to elect a majority of MP’s.  In 2011, the Tories won 53.9% of seats in parliament with 39..6% of the popular vote.