During the federal election campaign so far, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has been doing a lot of fear mongering, as he warns Canadians that Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has a secret agenda and would form a coalition government if there was another minority government.
Harper accuses Ignatieff forcing an election to defeat the Conservative minority government and then turn around and form an "illegitimate" coalition with NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe.
It's the worse thing that could happen to Canada, the Conservative boss claims as he tries to produce a paralyzing fear that will run through the hearts Canadians.
For his part, Ignatieff has gone on record stating he wouldn't look at forming a coalition if he ends up in the opposition seats in the House if there's another Conservative minority government.
It might all be a moot point if recent polls are close to being on the mark, as there are predictions the Harper gang will form a majority government albeit by a slim margin.
But, let's turn our attention back to Mr. Harper and his vehement distaste for coalition governments.
Back in 2004 when Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin led a minority government, Harper was looking into the possibility of forming a coalition government.
In fact, he signed a letter along with Duceppe and Layton and sent it to then Gov. Gen Adrienne Clarkson and asked her to "consider all her considerations."
Mr. Harper is playing the word game when he claims he was just part of a "co-opposition accord" and wasn't indicating he wanted to be part of a formal coalition.
So, while he points at Mr. Ignatieff as being a wolf in sheep's clothing with a underlying desire to form a coalition government, Harper has exposed himself as being a hypocrite and a man whose thirst for power is so deep that he has lost grasp of the reality between truth and the desire to govern.
If the parties insist on turning this election into a leadership popularity contest, Canadians should be careful not to fall into the trap.
