With Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla embroiled in a Commons committee hearing, former Tory Prime Minister Brian Mulroney caught up in a government inquiry and the airwaves saturated with Conservative attack ads on Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, there's a feeling in the air that a federal election may be near.

If the Harper government is indeed toppled by a non-confidence vote, it means Dufferin- Caledon voters will be going to the polls for the seventh time in seven years, if municipal and provincial elections are added to the mix.

While the three top parties in the riding — the Conservatives, Liberals and Greens — don't appear too eager to hit the campaign trail, all have indicated their willingness if it is necessary.

Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson says a spring election "is just talk, Ottawa media hype. It's possible, but highly doubtful."

He points out that, if an election is forced, it would likely not happen until July; arguably the least popular month to hold one. "Whoever would force that election would have heavy repercussions against them.

"It's true that the Liberals are ahead in the polls right now, but even people that don't support me politically tell me they don't want an election. I don't think there's a soul that wants one" (right now).

Mr. Tilson is chair of the standing committee on citizen and immigration that is investigating the rights of migrant workers in Canada. Acknowledging that it has become popularly known as the "Ruby Dhalla committee," he also says the reference is unfair to both Ms. Dhalla and the committee

As for the Liberals, Dufferin-Caledon Federal Liberal Association president Jeff May when asked about the possibility of an early election, replied, "I don't know. I can't speak for the leader or the caucus at this point.

"I am open to suggest that we will be prepared."

As for the recent spate of Conservative attack ads on Mr. Ignatieff as "just visiting" Canada, which Mr. May regards as "childish," he maintains they won't succeed to the point the attack ads on his predecessor as leader, Stéphane Dion, did in the 2008 campaign.

"I don't think they will be successful," he said, suggesting the Conservatives "need to grow up and face the issues. They should be focussed on the economy, giving people the hand up they need."

Ard Van Leeuwen, Dufferin-Caledon Green party candidate in 2008 and that party's finance critic, also has concerns about the Tory attack ads.

"The attack ads aren't new to Canadian politics but the concept of so openly campaigning in between elections is," he points out. "Liberals will be forced to respond, and with all this posturing, we may even stumble into an election by accident.

"There are, however, more than two parties in parliament and their votes also figure in triggering an election. It's to be hoped that cooler heads prevail so that government can get on with the business of governing instead of electioneering."

The Dufferin-Caledon Greens have a nomination meeting scheduled for June. There were originally two candidates vying for the nomination, but one has dropped out. That leaves Mr. Van Leeuwen, whose 17 per cent of the Dufferin-Caledon vote made him the sixth most successful Green candidate in Canada, unopposed.

"The Green Party is getting ready for a possible election," Mr. Van Leeuwen said. "You have to be extra prepared when the decision is not yours to control. Whether there's an election around the corner remains very uncertain. But I thinks it's pretty safe to say that the public does not want to see one anytime soon."

Meanwhile. Mr. Tilson has garnered favourable reviews for his performance in the role of committee chairman.

National Post columnist Don Martin, who covered the proceedings, said in an interview that he was "pleasantly surprised" by the Dufferin-Caledon MP's conduct. "Keeping in mind that Tilson is one of the more partisan, pit bull-like guys when he's in committee — he can be pretty cranky and pointed — I've got to say that he (chaired the committee) pretty fairly. I didn't hear any grumblings from the MPs in the other parties."

Mr. Martin also suggested that, for the "betterment of parliamentary decorum," Mr. Tilson should, from now on, chair committees he's involved in. "When he's in the chair, he's not antagonizing the regular committee members with harsh and often cranky behaviour."

Mr. Tilson is unapologetic when it comes to claims that his committee behaviour is on the abrasive side.

"When I sit on the ethics committee, it's my job to ask tough questions and to seek out the truth from the witnesses. If people think I'm being cranky, I think I'm just doing my job."