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Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion's controversial deal with Green Party Leader Elizabeth May "has Liberals questioning their leader's judgment," The Globe's Jane Taber reported Saturday in her article Insiders shocked by Green-Grit deal

Mr. Dion announced last week his party will not run a candidate against Ms. May in the Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova, giving her a better chance of beating the long-time Conservative incumbent, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay.

Ms. Taber wrote: "In return, Ms. May said her party will not run a candidate against Mr. Dion in his Montreal riding of St. Laurent, leaving some Liberals to joke that their leader can now win his 'safe Liberal riding'."

"The deal has also set off the NDP, which is accusing Ms. May of the most cynical kind of backroom politics after she approached former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations Stephen Lewis last month to help her broker an agreement with the New Democrats to work against the Conservatives.

"The NDP would not play ball. Leader Jack Layton has refused to take her calls."

The Dion-May deal is unusual in several ways. But, as columnist Lawrence Martin argues Tuesday in his column The Grits aren't the only ones making alliances : "The Conservatives have their own history of cozying up to Quebec separatists and, more recently, autonomists from the same province."

"In the 1980s, Brian Mulroney's welcoming of Lucien Bouchard, among other secessionists, into the Tory fold backfired, leading to Mr. Bouchard's creation of the Bloc Québécois. There followed his near-victory in the referendum of 1995.

"Stephen Harper . . . has [also] extended a hand to some in the sovereigntist class . . .

"In denigrating linkages by others, the governing Conservatives would do well to look in the mirror — rearview and present — to measure how their own alliances stack up."

What do you think of the various machinations ahead of a possible election this year? Is it just politics-as-usual? Or is there something different about the 2007 version of backroom deals?

We're pleased that Ms. Taber will join us online today (Wednesday) until 3 p.m. EDT on this week's instalment of The Hill_Live, our weekly live discussion on federal political issues.

Join the Conversation at that time or submit a question or comment in advance. Your questions and Ms. Taber's answers will appear at the bottom of this page when the discussion begins.

Senior political writer Jane Taber is also co-host of CTV's "Question Period" and has covered Parliament Hill since 1986.

She started her career at The Ottawa Citizen and later became the host of a weekly political affairs program on WTN, "Jane Taber's Ottawa." She has also covered the Hill for The National Post.

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Christine Diemert, globeandmail.com: Hi Jane and thanks for joining us to discuss federal politics today.

The issue that has been on the minds of political watchers this past week is controversial deal where Liberal Leader Stephane Dion will not run a candidate in the next federal election against Green Party Leader Elizabeth May in the Central Nova riding now held by Conservative Peter MacKay. There has been plenty of chatter about what this means for Canadian democracy in general, the Liberal party in particular and Stephen Harper's chances of winning the next federal election.

Aside from that, one of the things I find interesting in all of this is the return of former NDP leader Ed Broadbent to the public eye and his impassioned argument against the deal. He's a trusted political figure in Canada, should we be paying closer attention to the deal?

Hey Chris: Thanks for asking me to participate today. I love debating issues with readers and I think that we've got a fascinating topic today. It really has caused a ton of controversy.

I wrote about this for Friday's paper, mentioning that Stephane Dion and Elizabeth May were to enter into this agreement. In that first article I noted that I interviewed Elizabeth May on CTV's Question Period in mid-March. Ms. May had declared on the show, which I co-host with CTV's Craig Oliver, that she was going to run in Central Nova against Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay.

Well, Ed Broadbent, the former NDP leader, read the story and called me the next day. He was incensed about her declaration about not being involved in any backroom deals. He made the point that she had been speaking to Stephen Lewis, the former Canadian Ambassador to the UN, about trying to set up a telephone call with NDP Leader Jack Layton about making some kind of deal.

Mr. Layton will not speak to Ms. May. Mr. Broadbent -- and you're right that he is one of the most trusted figures in Canadian politics -- made the point, too, that this deal disenfranchises Canadian voters. And that to him is wrong.

He is certainly making his voice heard on this issue. He is articulate and has a ton of experience. He should be listened to. But he is providing one perspective. Ms. May has hers as does Mr. Dion.

Many people, pollsters included, believe this is a good deal for Canada and the environment.

Christine Diemert, globeandmail.com: Thanks Jane, we've got a lot of questions today, too many to have them all answered, in this time period, but let's start ....

David Gehring, Ottawa: Good afternoon, Jane, and thanks for taking our questions. Clearly, this deal improves Elizabeth May's chances of winning a seat in the next election. But what is Stéphane Dion's motivation behind this? Is this part of his theme of making the Liberals appear stronger on environmental issues or is he simply trying to knock one of the highest-profile Conservatives out of Parliament? Perhaps he wants to achieve both objectives?

Hi Mr. Gehring: Thanks for your question. I think you're on to something. I think that Mr. Dion, who likes to think outside of the political box, believes that Elizabeth May would be a good addition to the House of Commons. I also think there are many Liberals, including the people around Mr. Dion, who would love to see Peter MacKay out of the House of Commons and a high-profile Tory embarrassed.

Stringer's Smarter Cousin, London, Ont.: Ms. Taber, as Mr. (Lawrence) Martin pointed out [in his column yesterday], deal-making is common enough that one must ask: What is the big deal? Given some of the points of view expressed in reports from mainstream media reporters, I would ask whether you feel that Ottawa-based reporters are falling into the same trap that the Washington media have fallen into — that is, accepting party-in-power propaganda as fact, rather than propaganda?

Stringer's Smarter Cousin from London, Ont.: It's always easy to blame the messenger and accuse us of being inside some sort of Ottawa bubble. But I don't think I'm falling into any trap. I get criticized as much by the Liberals as I do by the Conservatives. I figure that means I'm doing a good job.

Sam M., Montreal: I find floor-crossing more of an issue than this deal. Take Belinda Stronach, for example. She crossed the floor for a portfolio. The thing is at least she ran in the same riding in the next election, giving her constituents the chance to voice their displeasure. David Emerson is thinking about running in a different riding but you don't hear a whole lot about that!

I find appointing Mr. Fortier, who is not elected, a much bigger issue than this deal between Mr. Dion and Ms. May. I find lying on national television about not taxing income trusts a much bigger issue than this!

So my question to Jane Taber has to be: Why is this such a big issue?

Dear Sam M. from Montreal: Those are all big issues that you mention. The income trust issue is particularly interesting and is gaining strength in the West. You may have noticed the reporting last weekend from Calgary. Jason Kenney, the PM's right-hand man, was questioned closely by constituents about the income trust reversal at a meeting in his riding. This is an issue that has caused great controversy and has not been forgotten. The Fortier appointment has also not been ignored.

Shoshana Berman, Montreal: Jane, I'm not so much shocked as disappointed. Mr. Dion seems to be spending more time getting other women elected than the women in his own party. Thank you for highlighting that on the weekend in your column . . . My question to you is: Can you find out how many female candidates have been nominated [as Liberal candidates] because I can't — even when I ask Mr. Dion's office. I think they are below the last election's totals, not above. They are now trying to fill unwanted rural ridings that can't be won with women . . . I personally hope those women do not let themselves be used in this manner. What are your thoughts on this process and its absolute failure to ensure more female candidates?

Ms. Berman: I actually believe that Mr. Dion and his party are on track to have 33 per cent women nominated as candidates. I also believe that the Liberals are trying to find winnable ridings for women. I think Mr. Dion and the party are very sincere in their efforts to fulfill the leader's promise to recruit more women. I don't think it's an absolute failure. I know Isabel Metcalfe, who Mr. Dion recently appointed to help in this process. You couldn't meet a better organizer or a woman more committed to mentoring and helping other women in politics. In this case I believe the Liberals are on going in the right direction.

Harvey Mushman from cambridge Canada writes: Jane: It seems that the 'long knives' are already being drawn within the Liberal party for Mr. Dion. How deep does the concern over Mr. Dion as leader really run in the party based on your information? It certainly looks like the ongoing exodus of Liberal MPs through defection and retirement is an indication of their lack of confidence that Mr. Dion can lead them back to power.

Mr. Mushman: I don't believe the "long knives" are out for Mr. Dion. There are some in the party who are disappointed with some of his decisions but I don't think that we will see a repeat of what we saw in the late '80s when Liberals were trying to get rid of their leader, John Turner.

I don't see the retirement of MPs as an "exodus". I think this is just a natural turnover. This also saves Mr. Dion the problem of having to ask or in some cases even push people aside so that he bring in some new faces. The Liberals talk about wanting to renew themselves and bringing in some new MPs is one way of showing renewal.

Martin F. from Ottawa Canada writes: I believe that this kind of deal-making heralds the arrival of an enlightened way of doing politics.

This kind of co-operation between political parties is a Canadian prelude to the kind of proportional representation politics in use in most mature democracies around the world.

Kudos to Ms. May and Mr. Dion for being courageous and for promoting a kind of co-operative politics different than the current adversarial, negative and often barbarian-like circus often seen in the media and in the House of Commons.

Martin F. You raise a good point about proportional representation. But there just doesn't seem to be a will to do it because it doesn't usually favour the governing party. Interestingly, a commission in Ontario has proposed a system of Mixed Member Proportionality or MMP. It's to be voted on in the next provincial election, which The Globe and Mail has questioned in a recent editorial.

This is all food for thought and it's a great start in seriously looking at electoral reform. Ms. May had also referred to the need for proportional representation in the interviews after the announcement of her deal with Mr. Dion.

john deere from Canada writes: I think this is a good deal for Mr. Dion. This way he doesn't have to answer any allegations from the Green Party about the environment and the Green Party is going to run around the country bashing the NDP and the Conservatives and helping Mr. Dion to make climate change an election issue. Whether this deal is right or wrong, they are making it public before the election and letting the voters decide for themselves.

Mr. Deere: I think you're on to exactly what the Liberal strategy is vis-a-vis this deal. The Tories are poised to bring out another environmental deal and by making the Dion/May pact public the Liberals have gotten ahead of the issue.

Canadians know that the Liberals have a leader that a Green politician, such as Elizabeth May, would support as Prime Minister. This is the Liberal tactic.

But some Libs are worried that it could backfire -- that the strategic voting will not be Greens going to Liberals but Liberals voting for Greens to get more Greens into the House of Commons.

Jeff Kelly from Kitchener Canada writes: It's nice to see Mr. Dion putting integrity and principle above partisan politics. It's too bad (though not surprising) that many of the extremely partisan forum-posters here on globeandmail.com don't see it that way. Will this likely help or hurt Mr. Dion (and by extension, his party) at the polls?

And Mr. Kelly: Again, it's going to be fascinating to see how this deal plays out at the polls. As I mentioned in my earlier answer there are two schools of thought on how this will work on election day.

Alex Schmidt from Toronto Canada writes: Hello, everyone. Regarding disenfranchising voters, what do you thing about the Green Party obtaining 6 per cent of the national vote and, yet, not winning a single seat last election. Is this democratic, representative? While we have a First Past the Post System, perhaps Ms. May is justified in doing this.

And the NDP now saying the Green Party should not participate in the next leaders' debate? The NDP is fighting for its political life, possibly being squeezed out by the Liberal and Green parties next election. I would consider Mr. Broadbent's comments in that context.

Alex Schmidt: You're absolutely right about the proportional representation issue. I mentioned in an earlier answer that the Ontario Liberal government has taken a very serious step in electoral reform. Perhaps this will catch on.

Ms. May made the point in recent interviews about the unfairness of the system. But the issue about the debate is a little more interesting. Is it really fair to have Elizabeth May debating when she has come out supporting Mr. Dion as the next Prime Minister? Is that fair?

Derek Nardone from Vaughan Canada writes: Hi Jane. You've mentioned that this deal is important with regards to the environmental platform of the Liberals. I am wondering however, do you see the environment as the main issue of the election whenever it comes. Or do long campaigns and a diverse population mean a host of issues will be dealt with, both on the radar and not?

Mr. Nardone: The Liberals definitely believe that the environment will be THE issue of the election. They believe that they are now very well positioned with this deal with Elizabeth May to campaign hard on the environment and appeal to Canadians as the party to trust as having the best environmental plan. I tend to think that it's too early to say what the campaign issue will be as election campaigns tend to take on lives of their own. You just never know what issue will pop up. That's what makes all of this so exciting and fascinating.

Christine Diemert, globeandmail.com writes: On that note, I'll thank Jane again for joining us. It would be great to continue the discussion all day, but I know you have work to do. We'll leave the debating to the readers.