Layton says merger talk is nothing more than Liberals talking to Liberals. Just now Ignatieff, in a press scrum outside today's caucus meeting: "I have no relationship with Kinsella". Warren Kinsella has been a visible figure in press reports of potential merger discussions of late.

Are merger/coalition discussions happening? Or is this a resurfacing of the Martin-Chretien war?

With such a blanket repudiation of merger discussions by Iggy, with leadership contenders standing behind him, joined in the chorus by Layton, I can only think of... Peter "I am not the merger candidate" MacKay, who would soon (talks held over the summer... coincidence?) announce a merger.

Regardless of the veracity of merger discussions, the base problem - a fractured centre / centre-left support in the country, with insufficient critical mass to challenge Harper's Conservatives in large swaths of the country - remains very real.

If the current opposition parties stick to status quo, then how about a much more radical plan: ditch all the cliques in the opposition parties and start an entirely new organization not beholding to either the NDP or the Liberals as they stand today, backed by well recognized and trusted names, and invite Canadians to join. Give Canadians the option they want, but no party leader seems willing to deliver upon.

In other words, follow the "Reform" route, only faster. Cut off the other two at the knees. And then fold the remains of the hold-outs back into the new party at a future point in time.

Where can Canadians sign up?