Maybe it's because of all the political sabre-rattling that's been going on lately but a snarky exchange outside the National Press Theatre Wednesday illustrates the high-stakes atmosphere on Parliament Hill.

Moments after the prime minister’s question and answer session with reporters, a confrontation ensued between two press secretaries — one from the Conservatives, the other from the NDP.

Dimitri Soudas from the prime minister’s office was clarifying comments made by Stephen Harper and listening in was NDP press secretary Ian Capstick.

Soudas expressed his displeasure with Capstick monitoring this sidewalk briefing with reporters. So Capstick shot back, asking Soudas whether he was actually suggesting that his rival was not allowed to stand on a public walkway.

Soudas replied, “I don’t listen in on your conversations,” to which Capstick retorted, “Bullshit you don’t,” and walked away.

If press secretaries are this belligerent, one can only imagine what awaits us when MPs return to Ottawa later this month after a four-month recess, for a showdown over the throne speech.