Coalitions and that King Byng thing

After the October 1925 election the King Liberals formed a Coalition with the Progressive Party giving the coalition the majority of seats to form the government putting the the Conservatives in official opposition.

Only 8 months after Kings Liberal/Prog. Coalition formed it was doomed to fail, King asked GG Byng for an election, GG refused and King stepped down. Conservative leader Arthur Meighen formed a minority government that was supported by the house for 4 critical votes. On the fifth vote the Government was defeated and an election was called.

The Liberals, NDP and Bloc did not take the option to to ask GG for them form the government at the dissolution of the 39th parliament, or at the formation of the 40th parliament.

In the case of the current 40th parliament the throne speech was given and supported by the house, affirming the Conservatives as the Official Government of Canada, and the confidence was given immediately after the reading of the fiscal update. There was full knowledge of the dreaded $1.75 per vote taken from the precious political party trough and the Conservative Government was given Confidence of the House.

The King/Byng affair was the last time in Canadian History that our GG disregarded the advice of the Prime Minister. http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/federal_politics/clips/11688/

Then we also have the War time Coalition Government lead by Robert Borden from 1917-1921

And further back in Canadian historty the Great Coalition of American Civil war time.