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NDP open to working with Ignatieff

By LAURA PAYTON, Parliamentary Bureau

OTTAWA ­- The NDP are responding cautiously to news that Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said he was willing to consider forming a coalition following the next election.

A spokesman for Jack Layton said the NDP leader has worked with others his entire political life.

"That's the kind of leadership Canadians are looking for. We'll keep watching with interest as the Liberals try to figure out what is wrong with them. They obviously have a lot to talk about," Karl Belanger said.

Layton's chief of staff told CTV's Question Period the NDP has always been open to co-operating, although Ignatieff had previously closed the door to a coalition.

"I think it is positive that it is being seen as a legitimate formation, that this is not off the table, that we can discuss co-operation," Anne McGrath said Sunday.

In a press report, Ignatieff ruled out a party merger but said he was a unifier who could make "all kinds of electoral arrangements" work.

McGrath called Ignatieff's remarks "interesting."

A spokesman for Ignatieff said the Liberal goal in the next election is to win a majority.

Tory strategist Tim Powers said Ignatieff has "made himself half-pregnant."

"He had to take a position but this is the worst position he could take," he said.

"This is not dialogue that the NDP is driving ... Liberals are talking about it because they're weak and they're vulnerable and they're looking at different options," Powers said.