Based on the current poll numbers,.... the Tories are set for a majority. But it’s still very possible, even likely, that they’ll be held to yet another minority, in which case virtually everyone in the country assumes the left-leaning parties will ponder another coalition. They’d be mad not to, and they do, indeed, have parliamentary tradition on their side for such a move. It’s democratically legitimate and perfectly legal (the frightening prospect of the Bloc’s involvement does not sit well with many Canadians, but distasteful as it is, it doesn’t break any laws.)
The problem facing the Liberals is that while a coalition is constitutionally legitimate, it remains to be seen whether Canadian voters will find it politically palatable. And the longer the Liberals act like they have cotton in their ears whenever the question is posed to them, the more difficult it will become to sell an otherwise viable option to voters, before or after the election. A voter who might be inclined to accept/tolerate a Liberal-NDP coalition (with or without the Bloc) might still be put off by the Liberals refusing to discuss it. This time, it’ll be the Liberals being accused of having a hidden agenda. And don’t imagine for one minute the Tories wouldn’t love a chance to hoist the Liberals on that particular petard.
