In the tradition of English Parliaments, the opposition can at any time call for a “vote of confidence” of the Prime Minister, the leader of the Executive Branch of the government. Unlike the gridlock of the U.S. system where the President and Legislative branches can be of opposite parties and unable to function, the Prime Minister being selected by the Parliament (and subject to recall) usually ensures that the Lawmakers and the Executive are playing on the same side.
So Canada decided to become the Leader of the NATO “coalition” to “handle” Libya. The Liberal party in Canada called for a vote of no confidence and won, which means new elections will be called to occur in May. There is no connection between those two events -it’s just a coincidence.
The current Conservative party is a minority party – the opposing parties didn’t have enough in common to form a coalition government, but that might change. The French Canadians in Quebec sort of march to their own drummer.
Rather than resulting in a coalition government, the election could bring about a Conservative majority government. Some pundits say Prime Minister Harper has successfully baited the three smaller parties into causing an election the public doesn’t want. New opinion polls say Canadians’ No. 1 issue is health care — not that they want more socialized medicine, but they’re worried about how they will be able to keep paying for it.
They may also be worried about where to get health care now that Obamacare is the law of the land. Prior to this, border towns in the US were hotbeds of economic activity because Canadians who were fed up with waiting 9 months to see a doctor for routine care would come here, pay cash, and be treated immediately.