When the election was first called, I wrote about chatter regarding possible coalitions after January 23rd. Now, three weeks in, the rumour mill seems to be only heating up further.

Sources have let on to me that mid-level national operatives of both the NDP and the Tory parties have been meeting to discuss a potential future parliamentary coalition.

Reports are still sketchy at best, but at least two things are clear thus far: It would be a coalition for the purposes of democratic and institutional reform (possibly leading to a PR system?); and it would only be considered if between the Tories and the NDP they had at least 155 seats - enough to sit as a majority.

There has been reports in other media that the NDP are publically speaking out against this possibility - and that is part of the plan. Layton knows full well that many people would rush from the NDP to the Liberals in 'strategic' voting droves if they thought the Tories would win a majority. While the defections would not be of the same degree for a Tory minority, there would be some - this nesseciates keeping the idea off the table, at least for the earlier stages of the campaign, while Harper is still seen as a boogey man to many Ontarians.

The coalition may not come to pass, but it is looking more and more likely that if the political conditions are right, it may become a reality.