Here’s some friendly advice for Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion from a senior Conservative MP on how the Liberals can avoid forcing an election this fall.

Follow Stephen Harper’s example from March 9th, 2005 when Conservatives sat on their hands rather than vote one way or the other on Paul Martin’s budget.

Their stated reason at the time: it was in the best interests of Canada that the government be allowed to continue despite the oppositon having issues with some of the budget contents.

So the suggestion to the Liberals for the throne speech vote in mid-October is that Dion and deputy leader Michael Ignatieff rise and symbolically vote against the speech but that every other Liberal MP abstain.

That way, Harper’s government would survive regardless of how the Bloc Québécois and NDP vote. And Liberals could retreat to fight another day.

Great idea for struggling Liberals. Except Dion would have to come up with a good reason why he’d allow his party to let the speech pass if it fails to include measures he’s vigorously demanded, and only recently.

Thus Dion’s choice: vote down the speech if those demands aren’t met but risk an election as Liberal fortunes appear to be on the wane. Or let it pass and have Liberals regroup but risk looking weak and afraid of both Harper and the electorate.

Rock? Meet hard place.