Green Party Leader Elizabeth May confirmed Tuesday that she has had discussions with Liberal Leader Stephane Dion about playing a role in a potential coalition government, which her party supports.
At a press conference in Ottawa, she suggested she would be open to the possibility of becoming a senator or cabinet minister, but the discussions with Dion were not specific.
May said that her party gained a significant number of votes in the last election and she would like to influence what happens in Ottawa under a potential coalition government.
"I would be the only senator that received a million votes," she said.
May noted that the Senate would give her party an avenue of helping shape the direction of Canada.
"We do not have a seat in the house, but we have people in this country who will mobilize to do what's right," she said.
But May noted while she fully supports the coalition and wants to see it succeed, she will not tell the coalition what to do.
"We're supporting this not to gain influence," she said at a press conference in Ottawa.
"Canadians urgently need action on the economy. Mr. Harper is not providing that ... Now is time to turn to the other parties and see if they can form a government."
May had reached a deal with the Liberals that she would not field a candidate in Dion's riding as long as the Liberals did not put up a candidate in her riding. Defence Minister Peter McKay ended up defeating May, while Dion won his seat.
Dion was asked about what role May may have in the potential government by reporters at Monday's coalition agreement signing ceremony.
Dion was vague, but he noted that he greatly admired the Nova Scotia politician and said his agreement with the Greens was the first step in cross-party cooperation.
"The only thing I want to say is I have strong admiration for Elizabeth May. Indeed, we had an agreement. We may say that we made the first step toward the idea that we need to reconsider how we act with partisan relationships in our country," he said.
