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The number of political parties playing a role in the proposed coalition government could climb to four, as Stéphane Dion left open the possibility of an appointment for Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

In announcing her party's support for the coalition proposal, Ms. May told reporters she had discussed a Senate appointment with the Liberal Leader and said she expected her party would play a role in the coalition.

"We wouldn't have a veto. We would have influence," Ms. May said.

The Liberal Leader did not refute Ms. May's comments.

"I have made no commitments to anyone about appointments for Senate or for ministry portfolios. And before [doing] so, I will consult [NDP leader Jack] Layton. This being said, I have a great regard for Madame May," Mr. Dion said when asked about the Green Leader's remarks.

The Green Party failed to elect a single MP in the last election, but Ms. May said her party's support adds legitimacy to the coalition because nearly one million Canadians voted Green in the Oct. 14 election.

Ms. May's party launched a website aimed at encouraging the public to endorse the coalition. The site urges visitors to sign a petition.

"We need to make it clear that the majority of Canadians want the coalition government," she said.

Ms. May told reporters she has had discussions with Mr. Dion, Mr. Layton and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe about possible roles for the Green Party.

Both Mr. Duceppe and Mr. Layton said there have been no decisions regarding Senate appointments.

"I told Mr. Dion don't offer me any because I'll refuse," Mr. Duceppe said, ruling out appointments for Bloc supporters. "I mean, we are not discussing that at all. I don't believe in Senators."

Mr. Dion was heavily criticized by the Conservatives during the last campaign for making a deal with Ms. May not to run candidates against each other. The deal was the main reason why Prime Minister Stephen Harper strongly opposed Ms. May's participation in the leaders' debates during the campaign.

While Ms. May stressed that her exact role with the coalition remains hypothetical, she confirmed that she has spoken with Mr. Dion about the possibility of her being appointed to the Senate.

"I'd be the only Senator, in the Senate, that received a million votes," she said, lumping together the 940,297 votes for Green candidates across the country. Ms. May ran as a candidate in Central Nova, Nova Scotia, in the last election, where she finished second to incumbent Conservative Peter MacKay.

Appointing Ms. May to the Senate would signal a clear departure in policy from the current Harper government. The Conservatives have been highly critical of the unelected nature of the Senate. They have proposed legislation aimed at imposing term limits and provincial elections that would produce Senate nominees for the Prime Minister to choose from.

In their first term, the Harper government appointed Michael Fortier to represent Montreal in cabinet. They also appointed Bert Brown from Alberta, who had been elected in a provincial referendum. The Conservatives have made no other Senate appointments and Mr. Fortier resigned his seat for an unsuccessful bid for election to the House of Commons. As a result, there are currently 18 vacancies in the 105 seat Senate.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said it appears the coalition has made side deals that were not part of the written accord.

"Mr. Dion never got from the Canadian electorate a mandate to be Prime Minister and now we see him doing back door deals," he told CTV News when asked about Ms. May's comments.

During her news conference, Ms. May also said the Greens will continue to support the coalition even if the party has no formal role.

She also urged Prime Minister Harper not to end the current session of Parliament before the confidence vote scheduled for Monday Dec. 8.

"There is no reason for delay," she said. "Mr. Harper may run, but he cannot hide. He has lost the confidence of the House."

Ms. May rejected the media's characterization of this week's events as a crisis.

"It's not a Parliamentary crisis unless Mr. Harper rings the Parliament Hill with tanks and tries to keep out the opposition members," she said. "This is an orderly transfer of government from a party that has lost the confidence of the House, to a coalition of responsible parties representing the majority of Canadian voters."