This week’s comment by federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff that his party will not attempt to topple the minority Conservative government anytime soon with non-confidence bills came as a relief to most Canadians.

Ignatieff stated, in a turnabout from his September vow to bring down the government as early as possible, that the Liberals now are in no hurry to do so. The public simply doesn’t want an election right now. While it sounded as if has finally seen the light and is backing down from an aggressive and counterproductive anti-government stance, it strikes us as another example of political gamesmanship in Ottawa.

Unfortunately, that has long been the theme for federal politics in Canada. That approach frequently, if not always, is at odds with what the public really wants from its government, which is to manage the country’s affairs efficiently and effectively.

We appreciate the ability under our parliamentary system for opposition parties to call for votes of non-confidence in the government. But too often since the Conservatives were elected to a minority government, the threat of such a move has been used strictly to earn political brownie points. When it was last followed through on, in 2008, the resulting election changed the makeup of the House little.

With opposition leaders scrambling to see who can be the pet of the government one week or appear as a hero to the public the next, it leaves great uncertainty in the political stability of our country.

Creating more firm legislation on fixed election dates, rather than giving the prime minister the option of calling an election at any time within the current four-year maximum term, would take much of the guesswork out of the equation. It also might prompt parties to cut back on the petty politicking and get down to the work of providing good government.